Nigerian Hoteliers Enabling Internet Fraudsters Activities – EFCC

 

Nigerian Anti-graft body, The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has levelled accusations against some hotel owners for abetting the crimes being perpetrated by internet fraudsters across the country.

The EFCC posited that the intentional sabotage and obstruction of law enforcement officers is a criminal offence and punishable by Section 38 (2) (b) of the EFCC Act.

In a statement issued by the commission, they accused some hoteliers for providing a safe haven for internet fraudsters. The EFCC intimated that the hoteliers are under obligation to cooperate with law enforcement officers carrying out their lawful duties.

The statement read: “The commission has observed a worrying pattern of cold complicity by hospitality entrepreneurs who appear to be hands-in-gloves with suspected fraudsters by housing them over long spells and making internet facilities available to them.

“While the argument is being made in certain quarters that hoteliers as business people have no means of determining who a fraudster is before allowing them to lodge in their facilities, that position runs counter to the law.

“Section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud And Other Related Offences Act, 2006 provides for a prison term of between five and 15 years without option of fine for any person who permits his premises to be used for any offence under the Act.”

“If the hoteliers are not enablers of the alleged crimes, as some have demonstrated by offering information to the Commission, they are under obligation to cooperate with law enforcement officers carrying out their lawful duties. To act otherwise would be tantamount to willingly becoming enablers to fraud.”