The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned that hotel owners can be charged as accomplices or be jailed for accommodating internet fraudsters also referred to as “Yahoo boys” to use their premises for cybercrime activities.
The EFCC issued the warning in a statement posted via its verified Facebook page on Wednesday.
Citing Section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, the EFCC said hoteliers could get a five-year jail term for allowing cyber criminals to use their facilities to perpetrate fraud.
“The hotel owner perhaps is ignorant of the fact that he could become an accomplice and liable for allowing his premises to be used for cybercrime, in contravention of section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.
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“The section provides that, a ‘person who, being the occupier or is concerned in the management of any premises, causes or knowingly permits the premises to be used for any purpose which constitutes an offence under this Act is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than 5 years without the option of a fine.
“The commission warns hoteliers from allowing their premises and facilities to become havens for cybercrime.
“Adherence to the rule of law remains a core principle moderating the activities of the EFCC and the Executive Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has repeatedly said the agency under his watch will not deviate from the norm.”
The anti-graft agency said this in reaction to media reports of how its operatives raided a Lagos hotel and violently broke into guests’ rooms.
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It was reported that some guests at the hotel were naked when the operatives broke in. The agents were also said to have threatened to shoot the hotel management while demanding the master access cards to the rooms.
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