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Invasion of OAU hostel: concerned parents seek redress from EFCC

Concerned parents of students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), under the aegis of Parents’ Coalition Against the Invasion of O.A.U. Students’ Hostels by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) are calling on the anti-graft agency to as a matter of urgency release (from their custody) the affected students unconditionally and clear their names in order to avert further physical and psychological trauma on the affected students.

 

The concerned parents made the demand on Friday, November 10, 2023 today during a press conference in Lagos.

This followed the raid carried out by operatives of EFCC on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 where at total number of 69 students of OAU were whisk away around 2:00am in Fine Touch and Superb Hostels in Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife.

Speaking on behalf of the concerned parents, Yinka Junaid said; “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 and 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.

While demanding for accountability and investigation into the matter, another parent, Debo Adebowale demanded that a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding this operation.

“We make an outcry to Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN, Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, and Mr. Ola Olukoyede, Chairman EFCC in this regard.

“The Honourable Attorney General’s screening exercise on the floor of the Senate, had condemned EFCC’s unfashionable mode of operation. So we call on him in particular to do the needful, and urge the government to implement reforms within law enforcement agencies, including the EFCC, to prevent similar incidents in the future.

In his own remark, Mr. Emmanuel Babatunde called on the public and civil society organizations to stand in solidarity with the concerned parents in condemning the action of the EFCC.

In his words; “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 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.

They are however requesting that the EFCC promptly respond to their yearnings and engage them in a transparent dialogue to address this grave injustice and also demonstrate its commitment to upholding the rule of law whilst respecting the rights of Nigerian citizens as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.

By Ajibola Adedoye

 

 

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