EFCC releases 58 OAU students arrested for alleged internet fraud; VC tells students to put experience behind them

In the early hours of Wednesday, November 1, 2023, EFCC operatives arrested some students of the Obafemi Awolowo University for suspected internet fraud in a midnight raid on hostels outside the campus, Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife.

The students were taken to the Zonal Office of the commission in Ibadan where they were paraded and detained but after the intervention of the school management and parents of the arrested students, 59 of them were released.

Earlier in the day, according to the commission, they were nabbed at Oduduwa estate area of Ile-Ife following “actionable intelligence” on their suspected involvement in fraudulent internet-related activities.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Coordinator for South-West, John Alao confirmed the students’ release to Channels Television in a telephone conversation.

Also confirming the release, the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said “many of the suspects duly profiled by the Command have been released, while profiling of suspects yet un-released will be completed, without further delay.”

“In line with the newly-reviewed procedures on arrest and bail of suspects by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has directed that sting operations at night time be stopped in all the Commands of the EFCC,” the statement read.

“The Commission wishes to assure the public that it will not relent in its adherence to the rule of law, in the exercise of its mandate.”

Prior to their release, OAU students had stormed the EFCC office in Ibadan, decrying their colleague’s arrest.

The protesting students carried various placards, expressing disappointment at the action of the anti-graft agency.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards read, “I am a medical student, not a Yahoo boy,” “Why remove the CCTV cameras if you are armed robbers,” “Criminals trying to arrest criminals,” among others.

At the EFCC Ibadan office, operatives of the anti-graft commission had barricaded their premises with watertight security.

Despite the tight presence of security officials, the OAU students were calling on the leadership of the commission to attend to them.

Meanwhile, following the arrest of the students, Prof. Simeon Bamire, the Vice Chancellor of the institution has appealed to students to put the experience behind them and move on.

Providing updates on the matter on Thursday, November 2, 2023, Prof Bamire, in a statement signed by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju, thanked the commission for the quick release of the students.

“After a spirited effort by the management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, which sent representatives to the Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to intervene in the case of arrested students, the EFCC has released 59 of the students.

“While thanking the officials of the EFCC for the quick profiling and eventual release of the students in less than 24 hours, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Simeon Bamire urged the EFCC to partner with the management of various institutions of higher learning to organise workshops for students across faculties to sensitise the students about the danger of financial crimes and cyber criminalities,” he said.

And commending the students who protested against the arrest of their colleagues, the VC also appealed to the students who were victims of the EFCC operation to put the experience behind them.

“The Vice Chancellor, therefore, appealed to students who were victims of the raid to put the experience behind them and move on with their lives. He lauded other students who rallied round their affected colleagues for being their brothers’ keepers without being violent nor exhibiting any act of vandalism,” the VC said.

Meanwhile, due to the public outrage that followed the night operation of the EFCC officials at the students’ hostels, the commission has banned its operatives from conducting sting operations at night.

In a statement issued by the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, on Wednesday evening, the new Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Ola Olukoyede slammed an immediate ban on night raids by the agency.