The Chairperson of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has revealed plans by the Nigerian Government to fight cybercrimes in the diaspora.
She hinted that the commission was making moves to collaborate with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to tackle the menace, through the creation of a special desk.
Dabiri-Erewa explained that the desk would serve as a platform for Nigerians in the diaspora who are victims of cybercrime to lodge complaints and get justice.
She made the disclosure on Friday during a visit to the EFCC Head Office in Abuja, following the indictment of over 70 Nigerians by the United States government for various crimes including massive email fraud and money laundering.
The NIDCOM boss said, “The commission will be working with the EFCC to have a special desk that will tackle cases like this; whether it’s about fraud, whether it’s about somebody cheating yo, we hope to partner with the EFCC to have a special desk to deal with cases involving those in the diaspora being defrauded or being cheated.
“They should have somewhere to complain to and with EFCC, I’m sure we can provide those answers and solve those problems.”
Dabiri-Erewa who condemned the activities of those indicted by the U.S. government, added, “A few people committing crime should not tarnish the image of a nation of 200 million people. However, the world wants to see that we are doing something about cybercrime.
“We are here with the EFCC to say Nigerians in the diaspora count on you to tackle cybercrime as effectively as you are tackling corruption in Nigeria so that those who perpetrate these crimes are brought to book.”
On his part, the acting EFCC Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, said the anti-graft agency would take drastic measures to prevent Nigerians from engaging in cybercrimes to save the nation’s image from international embarrassment.
He also gave an insight into how the EFCC contributed to the arrest of 77 Nigerians by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
According to Magu, the operation that led to the arrest of the suspects was jointly carried out by the operatives of both agencies.
“We have not been contacted, but they have acknowledged our participation in their release. But I do not have the details here … because what we have here is even more than the 77 people.
“Maybe others have been screened out and the information they have given us is everything that has been done – both here and in America,” the EFCC boss said.
