The Abuja Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is in a quagmire over the sudden disappearance of an alleged Abuja based internet fraudster popupalarly known as “yahoo boy”, Oyo Ekezie Joseph, a.k.a Tommy. He was arrested by operatives of the Commission on April 4, 2023, following intelligence reports.
Internet Fraudsters, especially the very affluent ones, have always cried out over under hand dealing by operatives of the Commission, whom the yahoo boys accused of relooting their loot. As painful as the relooting of their loot seems, their consolation has always been the fact that information concerning such high profile Internet Fraudsters don’t get to be read in the media because they always play ball handsomely.
During his arrest, Tommy was sure that his detention at the Wuse facility of the Commission was going to be short-lived, as he told whoever cares to know that nothing will come out of the investigation, as he would soon be a free man.
He was able to arrive at this conclusion because he is not a rookie in the game. He knows that with the EFCC, what money can not do, more money will surely do it.
The EFCC’s operative whisked him away from his Life Camp Brains and Hammers residence with his iphones 12, 13 and 14, being tools of his trade. Other items which were taken by the operatives but never accounted for, were luxury watches.
Traditionally, the modus operandi of the Commission in such operations is to break in to get to their target. That was exactly what happened on the night of April 4th when he was taken into detention.
But Tommy was less concerned about items stolen including the C43 AMG Mercedes-Benz Coupe (2018) which was taken from his house during the arrest. The only thing he wanted in exchange for which he allegedly struck a deal with the operatives was for his identity not to be made public through the media as it is, usually when raid is carried out and internet fraudsters arrested.
Usually, such arrest and parade is given the deserved publicity by the Commission’s media platforms and by extension, the mass media through the Commission’s Spokesperson, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren.
Sources revealed that the monetary implication of the deal to put him away from public glare was put at $107, 000 (One Hundred and Seven Thousand Dollars).
Very reliable insider said that between April 4th, 2023 when he was arrested and April 20th, 2023 when he was eventually released, the $107, 000 freedom fee was paid fully.
Apart from the $107, 000, the operatives also concluded to keep for themselves the C43 AMG Mercedes-Benz Coupe, as they discovered in the course of Tommy’s detention and investigation that he was expecting delivery of an automobile Vella Range Rover 2018.
In the alleged deal, though photo and statement of Tommy was said to be taken and statement recorded under caution, both the photo and information has not yet been released to the public over five months after the arrest.
Of the about $107, 000 allegedly looted from Tommy, only $27, 000 reflected in the statement as being recovery from the suspect.
To further ensure that the deal was not exposed to too many ears, the legal representation, a certain Barrister Mike Mbanefo that Tommy offered during his incarceration was turned down in place of legal services provided by the Commission.
Information has it that it was also the Commission that provided the Sureties that signed for Tommy’s bail bond. The services of the Sureties were said to be paid for by the Commission since Tommy does not know them.
Sources in the know of the deal alleged that operatives of the Commission have commenced a search of Tommy due to pressure from higher quarters following the leak of the deal. But he is said to have remained incommunicado since April 20th 2023 when he bought his freedom.