Lagos. January 13, 2012. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has just told Technology Times that the anti-graft agency suffered hacker attacks today in an announcement posted on its website claiming that Chairman, Globacom, Mike Adenuga Jnr and several others alleged to have been involved in fuel subsidy scam, have been arrested.
According to a statement posted on EFCC website and credited to Head, Media & Publicity Unit, Femi Babafemi, 21 executive directors have been detained in all and at the moment been interrogated over fresh information that they allegedly stole fuel subsidy funds.
Acting Head, EFCC, Wilson Uwajiren told Technology Times in an exclusive interview this afternoon that the purported press release was the handiwork of hackers that embarrassed EFCC with the 'press release' posted on the agency's website on www.efccnigeria.org.
"Please disregard the report, it was put there by some people", says the agency's spokesman who confirmed the attack by the hackers adding that work is underway to restore the website which was taken down in the wake of the embarrassing intrusion.
No group has claimed responsibility for the intrusion into the EFCC website that occurred following threats NaijaCyberHactivists, a hacker group that said it is launching series of attacks against the cyber infrastructure of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan that will begin with the nation's anti-graft agency, EFCC.
In an early statement preceding the attack, the hacking group says it contacted EFCC boss, Ibrahim Larmode, to make a pronouncement on actions being taken to prosecute individuals alleged to be involved in fuel subsidy scams latest by 10.00am Nigerian time today or the agency will come under attacks against its websites and technology infrastructure.
"Our Cyber Assault against EFCC begins today at exactly 10am if nothing is said about prosecuting the cabals/PPPRA/NNPC officials involved!” the group announced on Twitter, one of the social media platforms that has become a major channel for fuelling the co-ordinated information distribution for the fuel subsidy protests.
Soon after the expiration of the 10.00am ultimatum, a press statement purported to have emanated from EFCC was posted on the agency's website announcing the alleged arrests, which the EFCC's spokesman attributed to yet-to-be-known persons.
"The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Managing Director of CONOIL, Mike Adenuga, Managing Director of African Petroleum, Femi Otedola, Managing Director of MRS, Sayyu Dantata and others; as well as officials of the PPPRA and NNPC who defrauded the nation to the tune of several billions of Naira.", said the statement that was posted on the EFCC website by the hackers.
Additionally, the hacker's announcement on EFCC's website added that, "Twenty-one (21) executive directors have been detained in all and at the moment been interrogated over fresh information that they allegedly stole fuel subsidy funds. More information will be released later."
The statement was attributed to former Femi Babafemi, Head, Media & Publicity Unit of EFCC and dated "13th January, 2012."
Screenshot of the EFCC website this morning before the cyber attack
EFCC confirmed that Babafemi has since left the agency and urged members of the public to disregard reports of the purported arrests noting that no such arrests have been made by the anti-graft agency, according to its spokesman.
At the time of publishing this report, the EFCC website has not been restored even as the hacker group has maintained that other cyber attacks against the Jonathan administration will be launched to protest the removal of fuel subsidy by the administration.
Nigeria's official information gateway on www.nigeria.gov.ng is also down but it is yet to be confirmed if it suffered a normal downtime or it has become the target of another cyber attack.
Real-life public protests spreading across the nation enters its fifth day today across the country following deadlock of talks between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the executive arm of government to revert fuel prices to N65 per litre.
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Mr President,do you have the fear of God?if you do,then let the masses be at PEACE in your regime,by allowing God to direct you,you cant rule this people by yourself.you will surely fail.this people stood under the sun for you,don't forget that,if you know the meaning of PEACE. make it stay.God Bless you.
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