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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Eleven students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, will face trial for internet fraud.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the University, Abiodun Olarewaju, disclosed this after a meeting between the OAU management and officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), following the arrest of 69 suspected Internet fraudsters, many of whom are students of the university.
Recall that operatives of the EFCC had in a midnight raid stormed Fine Touch and Superb hostels in Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife, broke into rooms and arrested the students.
The Students’ Union President, Akinremi Ojo, said on Wednesday morning the union had details of “72 students picked up from the hostel, with phones and cars taken away.”
While condemning the manner the arrests were carried out, Ojo demanded the release of the students.
A statement by EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, later confirmed that it arrested 69 suspects in Ile-Ife. The anti-graft agency listed the names of the suspects but was silent on their identity as students.
“They were arrested on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at the Oduduwa Estate area of Ile-Ife, Osun State, following actionable intelligence on their suspected involvement in fraudulent Internet-related activities. Credible intelligence linked Oduduwa Estate with activities of suspected internet fraudsters,” the statement said.
The agency further said that, “the suspects have made useful statements to the EFCC and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”
Hours after the arrests, several OAU students led by the Students’ Union leaders mobilised from Ile-Ife to the EFCC office in Ibadan to demand the release of their colleagues. They were seen protesting as armed security operatives barricaded the commission’s premises.
The students owed not to leave until they release the their colleagues.
The PRO later confirmed that “58 of the students were released to us. The remaining 11 of them have cases to answer.”
