EFCC clears air on report labelling Nigerian students criminals
Ola Olukoyede EFCC chairman
Published By: Taiwo Okanlawon
By Fikayo Babalola
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disputed the media reports that its chairman, Ola Olukoyede, said “seven out of 10 Nigerian students are criminals”.
The report, based on a recent meeting between the EFCC Chairman and representatives of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), has been widely circulated in the media.
The anti-graft agency, in a statement by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, Olukoyede, clarified that his concern was about breaking the “jinx of mass indulgence of youths in cybercrime, rather than labeling students as criminals.
In a response to the report, “the EFCC said that Olukoyede is fully committed to supporting Nigerian youths and finding alternative solutions to cybercrime.
- Olukoyede never said “7 out of 10” Nigerian students are criminals – EFCC
- 7 out of 10 Nigerian students engage in internet fraud – EFCC
- EFCC arraigns man over alleged $63,590 fraud
Olukoyede believes that a collaborative approach, with interventions from various stakeholders, is needed to address the problem of cybercrime and help young people find more productive and sustainable options.
“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes has been drawn to some needless misrepresentation of the concerns of the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede to the rising incidences of internet-related crimes involving youths across the country,” Oyewale said.
“At a recent meeting with some representatives of Civil Society Organisations that paid him a courtesy visit, he called for wider media enlightenment of youths as a counter-measure against the menace of internet fraud. He did say that reports and intelligence available to him indicated that, unless this trajectory of youth involvement in internet fraud is addressed and reversed, the future of their leadership of our great nation may be threatened and if it continues in the next 10 years, seven out of 10 of our youths may be getting involved in cyber crimes.
“At no time did he say that ‘seven out of 10 Nigerian students are criminals’. His concerns still bother breaking the jinx of the mass indulgence of youths in cyber crimes.
“The EFCC wishes to assure the public that Olukoyede is doubly committed to the progress of Nigerian youths and this underscores his calls for collaborative interventions in offering them more productive and sustainable.
