The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it will begin the arrest and prosecution of landlords and their agents who let out their properties to internet fraudsters otherwise known as “Yahoo Boys.”

EFCC’ legal director Sylvania Tahir made the disclosure at a Twitter engagement on Wednesday. He was joined by assistant director Cosmos Ugwu.

Mr Tahir said individuals who knowingly permit fraudsters to use their premises to commit crimes would face prosecution and risk up to 15 years’ imprisonment according to Section 3 of the Advance State Fraud and other Fraud Related Offenses Act 2003.

“The law which is Advance State Fraud and other Fraud Related Offenses Act, 2003, made provisions under Section 3 on the topic we are discussing which is the use of premises,” Mr Tahir explained. “A person who being the occupier or is concerned in the management of any premises causes or knowingly permits the premises to be used for any purpose which constitutes an offence under this act commits an offence and is liable on culmination to a term, not more than fifteen years and not less than five years without an option of fine.”

When asked if it might be presumed that a property’s owner or management is not aware of criminal activity by one of his/her tenants, Mr Tahir responded that the law already specifies the limits of ignorance a property owner can claim.

“There is a term called ‘what he ought to know’ per the circumstances surrounding the kind of offence committed,” he added.

He also tasked property owners and managers to conduct background checks on their prospective clients. In cases where the managers of the premises are illiterate, he advised outsourcing the task to specialists.

With thousands of listeners on the space, the views of many people did not align with that of the EFCC. Some say that the vaguely defined “knowingly” in the clause of the law could be exploited by reckless cops to carry out severe human rights violations which have been seen in the past.

The anti-graft body has recently taken to a past time of badging into private residences and hotel rooms in search of suspected cyber criminals, most time without warrants.