The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned Nigerian girls that allowing internet fraudsters to use their bank accounts could land them in prison, urging them to shun cybercrime, sextortion and online blackmail.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, gave the warning on Monday, October 12, 2026, at an event organised by the African Girl Guild in Abuja to mark the International Day of the Girl Child.
Olukoyede, represented by the Head of the commission’s Enlightenment and Re-orientation Unit, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Aisha Muhammed, cautioned young women against becoming account mules for internet fraudsters, popularly known as Yahoo boys.
He warned that allowing criminals to move illicit funds through their accounts could expose them to serious legal consequences.
“Don’t let anyone use your account to commit fraud. That account in your name can take you to prison,” he warned.
The EFCC chairman also raised concerns over sextortion and online blackmail, urging girls to be careful in their relationships and avoid falling victim to criminals who exploit emotional vulnerability to extort money.
He stressed that young women must protect their integrity and resist the temptation to engage in questionable activities for financial gain.
“Your integrity is your crown. Do not sell it cheap,” Olukoyede said.
He further warned that girls who engage in cybercrime or blackmail people online were not only committing offences but also damaging Nigeria’s image.
“If you engage in cybercrime; if you become an account mule for Yahoo boys; if you blackmail people online, you are not just committing a crime, you are destroying Nigeria’s image, the same Nigeria you will need for a lot of things,” he said.
Olukoyede urged young women to pursue legitimate sources of income, acquire practical skills and develop sound financial habits rather than fall for the lure of quick money.
He identified technology, tailoring, baking, content creation and coding as some of the skills girls could learn to become financially independent.
The EFCC boss also advised them to save at least 20 per cent of their earnings and learn to distinguish between their needs and wants.
“Financial awareness is self-defence,” he said.
According to him, financial independence would help girls resist exploitation, make informed decisions and avoid being manipulated by people seeking to take advantage of them.
“An empowered girl is not waiting for someone to rescue her. She is educated; she is skilled; financially independent and because she is independent, nobody can buy her conscience,” he added.
The event, themed “Invest in Her, Empower Her and Let Her Lead,” also provided an opportunity for the EFCC chairman to call on girls to become responsible citizens by reporting wrongdoing, volunteering and respecting the law.
He disclosed that the commission had established Integrity Clubs and Zero Tolerance Clubs in schools across the country to promote ethical conduct among young people.
Olukoyede urged the girls to become ambassadors of integrity in their schools and communities.
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