The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has stated that the 101 Nigerians arrested alongside four Chinese nationals for cybercrime-related offences in Abuja were not coerced into the job.
According to the EFCC, the suspects were arrested on Thursday at an apartment in the Gudu area of Abuja.
The anti-graft agency noted that the suspects, comprising 67 males (including the four Chinese nationals) and 38 females, were allegedly involved in a hotel review job scam targeting victims and hotels in Europe and other parts of the world.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, the EFCC’s Head of Cybercrime, Deen Whyte, said the Nigerian suspects applied for the jobs and were employed.
Whyte said the Nigerians could have left the job upon discovering the nature of the work.
He stated that it would be unfair to conclude that the suspects were forced to work with foreign nationals, adding that the ongoing investigation had not established any evidence of coercion.
He said, “Talking about the Nigerians being accessories to this crime: for now, we have not been able to ascertain any case of forced servitude. I would like to point out that Nigerians responded to advertisements for job opportunities. They saw it as an opportunity to apply for jobs in a company willing to employ them. It was only after they began work that they discovered the nature of their activities.
“At that point, it became a matter of free will to either walk away or stay. However, if they chose to stay, they became accessories to the crime. Until further evidence suggests otherwise, it would be unfair to conclude that they were forced into the job.”
Speaking on the mode of operation of the syndicate, the EFCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, explained that the Chinese nationals lured Nigerians with job vacancies and then instructed them to initiate contact with victims globally.
He said, “The syndicate advertised job opportunities to lure innocent Nigerians into their employment. Once employed, the Nigerians were given instructions on how to contact victims around the world. This fraud targeted victims primarily in Europe and other parts of the world, with a particular focus on the United Kingdom.
Uwujaren urged Nigerians to exercise caution when considering employment offers, especially those that appeared suspicious.