Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has said that he has directed the state Attorney General and Commissioner of justice to work with the institution students’ union and the management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife over the arrest of 69 students of the institution over alleged fraudulent internet-related activities.
Recall that in a statement on the EFCC verified social media handle yesterday, said the students were arrested at Oduduwa Estate area of Ile-Ife, Osun State following actionable intelligence on their suspected involvement in fraudulent internet-related activities.
Reacting to the incident in a statement on his verified X (Twitter) handle, Adeleke said he had instructed the state’s attorney-general to work with the school administration, leadership of the student union, and the EFCC to safeguard the rights of the students
His words, “I have instructed the state’s attorney-general to work with the school administration, leadership of the student union, and the @officialEFCC to safeguard the rights of the students and ensure that due process is meticulously adhered to. I will continue to keep close watch”
Meanwhile, the OAU management has said a delegation from the school would visit the Ibadan Zonal Office of the EFCC to profile those arrested in the early hour raid on some hostels located outside the campus.
Speaking with our correspondent on phone, the public relations officer of the university, Abiodun Olanrewaju, who confirmed that some students were arrested, could not however give the figure.
“We are very much conscious of the fact that some people are reckless among our students.
We are not acting under the illusion that our students are doing some criminal activities but what we don’t want is for the innocent ones to suffer.
On the situation on the campus after the raid, Olanrewaju said, “Everywhere is calm. Please know that the students were not arrested on campus. They were arrested at different hostels outside the campus but that is not to say that we will not take care of our students because.
Reports showed parents and students body of the university besieged the Ibadan Zonal office of EFCC demanding the release of the students.
The irate parents and youths were said to have barricaded the entrance of the commission demanding the unconditional release of the students.
A student of the institution, Mr. Ololade Dada while speaking with our correspondent in Osogbo noted that most of the students arrested are innocent of the crime.
Dada, who condemned the blanket arrest of his colleagues, sai among those arrested are medical students, new students and visitors to their friends on campus.
Meanwhile, the EFCC chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has directed that sting operations at night be stopped in all the commands of the commission
The commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said the anti-graft agency boss gave the directive in Abuja yesterday in a reaction to the arrest of 69 suspected internet fraudsters by operatives of the Ibadan zonal of the commission in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
He said already, 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.
“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,” Oyewale stated.
