Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the release of 58 out of the 69 students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, earlier arrested for suspected internet fraud.
According to report, the anti-graft agency officials stormed two hostels outside the campus, between 1:40 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 1 and arrested not less than 69 students.
The commission, noted that they were nabbed at Oduduwa Estate area of Ile-Ife following “actionable intelligence” on their suspected involvement in fraudulent internet-related activities.
The release was confirmed by the commission’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, on Wednesday, November 1, noting that “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.”
Oyewale, however, did not indicate the exact number of students that were released.
“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.”
Following the arrest of the students, 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.
