Mr. Yinka Junaid surrounded by other Parents while reading the Communique in Lagos yesterday.
A group of Parents of the recently arrested students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile Ife on Friday in Lagos insisted that their Wards/Children were unlawfully and unjustly invaded and bundled away from the University Campus by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC on the fateful morning of November 1, 2023.
They are therefore demanding for an immediate clearance of their children’s names, biometrics and pictures from the records of the Economic Financial Crime Commission.
They are also demanding from the anti-graft agency an apology for what they termed as an unlawful clampdown on their Children/Wards.
* Some of the Parents during the Press Conference in Lagos yesterday
However, 58 out of the 69 students arrested by the EFCC on November 1, 2023 have been released even though the laptops and other valuables belonging to them are reportedly still being held by the agency.
Reading out an emotion-laden Communique on behalf of Parents’ Coalition Against the Invasion of OAU Students’ Hostels by EFCC at a crowded Press conference on Friday in Lagos, Mr. Yinka Junaid posited and insisted that the arrest was illegal and unjustified.
Other Parents in attendance included Mrs Ronke Adebowale, Mrs Adebimpe Junaid, Dr. Dotun Adebowale, Mr. Emma Babatunde amongst others.
*Below is the full version of the Communique issued on Friday, November 10, 2023 titled: Illegal Arrest of 69 Obafemi Awolowo University Students by the EFCC
We, the representatives of a large section of the parents of the affected students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Osun State, hereby convene this press conference to address a matter of utmost concern and urgency. On the fateful morning of November 1, 2023, our children, 69 OAU students, were unlawfully arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a sting operation that occurred between 2-3 a.m. in their hostels while they were sleeping.
We, as parents, are deeply disturbed and outraged by the manner in which this operation was conducted. We believe that the actions of the EFCC were not only illegal, but also violated the fundamental rights of our children. Their rights to privacy, dignity, personal liberty amongst others, as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, were blatantly disregarded in this operation. Right now, all the children and even some of us parents are already being treated for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of this unfortunate event.
We are aware of the EFCC’s arraignment of 11 of these students before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State over alleged involvement in internet fraud. In compliance with relevant Nigerian laws, we would not say anything about this matter that is before a competent court of law and we strongly hold on to the constitutional provision that a suspect is innocent until found guilty by a court and we have utmost confidence in the Nigerian judiciary to be just and fair in the handling of their cases.
Presently, our focus is on the innocent students that the agency released and returned their devices (which were illegally seized in the first instance), found nothing incriminating on, and are still being caused more trauma, continuous stress and life endangerment by asking them to keep reporting at their office in Ibadan which is around 100 kilometers away from the Obafemi Awolowo University where they school.
The lives of all these students have not been the same since the early hours of 1st November, 2023 because of an event which has caused them and their families a lot of trauma, untold stress, gross financial burden and potential destruction of the students’ professional future. A cursory online search for the names of any and all of these students will reveal one thing, they have been labelled as internet fraudsters all over the world, because of a wicked, baseless, inhumane and illegal sting action and a follow-up illegitimate listing and announcement of their names as suspects in a crime that never was by the EFCC.
As parents of these students, we demand answers from the EFCC regarding the following key points:
dents of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Osun State, hereby convene this press conference to address a matter of utmost concern and urgency. On the fateful morning of November 1, 2023, our children, 69 OAU students, were unlawfully arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a sting operation that occurred between 2-3 a.m. in their hostels while they were sleeping.
We, as parents, are deeply disturbed and outraged by the manner in which this operation was conducted. We believe that the actions of the EFCC were not only illegal, but also violated the fundamental rights of our children. Their rights to privacy, dignity, personal liberty amongst others, as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, were blatantly disregarded in this operation. Right now, all the children and even some of us parents are already being treated for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of this unfortunate event.
- Lack of due process: The EFCC failed to adhere to established protocols and legal procedures in conducting this operation. No search warrant was presented (but rather guns), and our children were arrested without any proper explanation or justification, and treated with such shame and disdain. In fact, we strongly believe that no prior investigation, as dictated by law was conducted sequel to the operation. Conversely, it was a case of the students already presumed and labelled guilty, and each one having to prove his innocence.
- Unlawful invasion of privacy: The EFCC’s invasion of the students’ hostels during the early hours of the morning, and in such a gestapo-like manner was a gross violation of their rights to privacy. Such actions, without any prior investigation, concrete evidence or reasonable suspicion, are unacceptable and can never be justified. We therefore seek to know what excuse or justification accounted for jettisoning all known standard protocol on investigation and arrest.
We, as parents, stand firmly in defence of our children’s rights and demand the following:
- Unconditional release and Clearance: We call on the EFCC to completely release all our children on whom nothing has been found unconditionally, and without delay. We also demand that the agency expunge their names, pictures, identities, biometrics and everything pertaining to them from all EFCC records and all social media platforms. To this end, we expect the announcement of the removal of their names followed by the issuance of a public apology. The public apology must be advertised in leading national newspapers and circulated on all its (EFCC) social media handles, websites, independent online media outlets, and all news agencies in the country.
We also call on the agency to speedily conclude its investigations on students who have been released but whose devices including academic tools are still being held.
Accountability and investigation: We demand a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding this operation. We make an outcry to the Chief Law Officer, Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN and the Chairman EFCC Mr. Ola Olukoyede in this regard. It is worthy of mention that during the Honourable A.G’s screening exercise on the Floor of the Senate, he had condemned EFCC’s unfashionable mode of operation.
- Reform and safeguards: Once more, we call on the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation in particular, and urge the government to implement reforms within law enforcement agencies, including the EFCC, to prevent similar incidents in the future. Strengthening legal safeguards, oversight mechanisms, and training programs is essential to protect the rights of Nigerian citizens.
We also urge the public and civil society organizations to stand in solidarity with us in condemning this flagrant abuse of power. It is crucial that we collectively raise our voices to safeguard the rights and dignity of every Nigerian citizen, especially our youths, who represent the future of our great nation. Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.
We appreciate the support and understanding of the media in amplifying our concerns and helping us seek justice for our children. We will continue to engage in peaceful advocacy and explore all legal avenues to ensure that our children receive justice in this matter. We call upon the Nigerian Bar Association, human rights organizations, and relevant stakeholders to join us in our pursuit of justice and the protection of our children’s rights.
We request that the EFCC promptly respond to our concerns and engage in a transparent dialogue to address this grave injustice. We expect the agency to demonstrate its commitment to upholding the rule of law whilst respecting the rights of Nigerian citizens as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.
Signed: Parents’ Coalition Against the Invasion of O.A.U. Students’ Hostels by the EFCC
