A Benin-based human rights activist, Leftist Osazee Edigin has faulted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC ploy that encourages youths arrested for internet fraud better known as “yahoo-yahoo boys” to enter a Plea Bargain for internet fraud during trials.
A plea bargain is a legal agreement in Nigeria, where a defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a reduced sentence or dismissal of other charges. The process is designed to expedite case resolution and decongest the Nigerian Correctional facilities.
Edigin gave the advice in a post he shared on social media on Thursday September 4th 2025 when he called on Nigerians to lend their voices in condemning internet fraud, advising fraudsters to desist from Internet fraud and seek legitimate means of livelihood with modest lifestyle.
He stated that some handful of the fraudsters appear happy that they are left off the hook by just paying the sum of N200,000 as option of fine against going to jail, while their properties are taken over by the EFCC as proceeds of crime in addition, unfortunately, most of the youths do not understand the future implications of such a decision on an ex-convict.
“The EFCC is turning our youths that are into Internet fraud ex-convicts by asking them to enter a Plea Bargain.
“Unfortunately, these youths don’t understand the future implications of being an ex-convict. They are only happy that they are left off the hook by just paying the sum of N200,000 as option of fine against going to jail while their properties are taken over by the EFCC as proceeds of crime.
“They will get to understand better later, when they turn a new leaf and intend to seek for a job, travel out of the Country or vie for political office.
“They don’t also know what may happen should they return to same internet fraud and taken to court. Will there be another window of plea bargain?”, he asked.
He however recommended the “need to tell anyone we know to desist from Internet fraud and seek legitimate means of livelihood with modest lifestyle”.
According to him, “Our EFCC can’t go after our political office holders anymore neither do they bother themselves to interrogate and investigate bloated contracts sum around the Country. The only job they do now is to be going after suspected Internet fraudsters”.
