11 OAU Students to Face Fraud Trial, University Engages with EFCC

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife has confirmed its meeting with officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following the recent arrest of 69 individuals suspected of engaging in Internet fraud. Of the arrested individuals, a significant number are OAU students, with 58 of them having been released later.

The arrests occurred when EFCC officials conducted a late-night raid on hostels situated outside the OAU campus, including the Fine Touch and Superb hostels in the Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife. The raid involved breaking into rooms and detaining the students.

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Akinremi Ojo, the Students' Union President, expressed concerns about the arrests and called for the release of the students while condemning the approach taken during the arrests.Joy Abiola, a former union official, reported that some of the students were subjected to physical violence during the arrests, which took place between 1:40 a.m. and 4:00 a.m.

The EFCC, in a statement on its verified Facebook page, later confirmed the arrests of 69 individuals in Ile-Ife. While the agency listed the names of the suspects, it did not specify their identities as students. The statement mentioned that the arrests took place on November 1, 2023, in the Oduduwa Estate area of Ile-Ife, Osun State, based on actionable intelligence regarding their suspected involvement in fraudulent Internet-related activities. The suspects have provided statements to the EFCC and will face charges once the investigations are concluded.

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In response to the arrests, OAU students, led by union officers, organized protests outside the EFCC office in Ibadan to demand the release of their colleagues. The armed security operatives barricaded the EFCC premises during the protests.

The Osun Joint Campus Committee arm of the National Association of Nigerian Students issued a statement condemning the arrests, expressing their disapproval of the invasion of OAU students' residences.

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Abiodun Olarewaju, the Public Relations Officer of OAU, confirmed the release of 58 students and stated that the remaining 11 had cases to answer. He reported that the university's management was in discussions with the EFCC officials regarding the matter.