Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has abolished sting operations at night, following the controversy stirred by its recent raid on Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife on Wednesday.
The raid, which saw the EFCC arrest 69 students who it labeled ‘Suspected Internet Fraudsters’, attracted heavy backlash, which was escalated through the #FreeOAUStudents hashtag – forcing the agency to announce some operational changes.
The school’s student union condemned the development, describing it as “unacceptable.”
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We strongly condemn the recent unjust arrest and harassment of our fellow students by members of the EFCC @officialEFCC in the odd hours of today, Nov 1st, 2023. This action is unacceptable and goes against the principles of justice and due process.#OAUTwitter #FreeOAUStudents pic.twitter.com/743d9r3i1G
— Great Ife Students' Union (@GreatIfe_SU) November 1, 2023
The Osun State governor Ademola Adeleke was quick to intervene: “I have 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 and ensure that due process is meticulously adhered to. I will continue to keep close watch,” he said.
Thus, in a statement titled: ‘EFCC Bans Sting Operations at Night’, the commission said its executive chairman, Ola Olukoyede, “has directed that sting operations at night time be stopped in all the Commands of the EFCC.”
“He gave the directive in Abuja on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 in reaction to the arrest of 69 suspected internet fraudsters by operatives of the Ibadan Zonal of the Commission in Ile-Ife, Osun State. 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 statement signed by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media & Publicity, said.
“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,” it added.
The anti-graft agency also announced a comprehensive review of its guidelines concerning the arrest, bail, and processing of suspects. It said the initiative, launched on Monday, October 31, 2023, spans all EFCC Commands and is grounded in the commitment to uphold the rule of law and international best practices in suspect treatment.
The revised guidelines place a significant emphasis on safeguarding the rights of suspects, particularly in matters pertaining to arrest, detention, and bail. Operational procedures will align with relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2011, and the EFCC’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
Under the new guidelines, EFCC operatives are prohibited from demanding professional certificates from sureties as a condition for bail. Additionally, requests for the international passport of suspects will be exercised with discretion, taking into account factors such as the nature of the case, the individual’s background, and their country of residence.
Commander of the EFCC, CE Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, who heads the Legal and Prosecution Department of the EFCC, emphasized that bail conditions must be reasonable and feasible for both suspects and their sureties. He also stressed the need to cease the unreasonable detention of suspects without a Remand Warrant, exceeding the constitutionally allowed period.
Furthermore, officers of the Commission have been cautioned against any unwarranted violation of the rights of suspects. Tahir emphasized the importance of professionalism in all operational activities, stating, “it is time to have a paradigm shift and change the narrative. Henceforth, professionalism shall be the watchword. Let’s follow the best international standards worthy of our identity as a flagship law enforcement agency.”
Towing the path of the Nigerian Police
Following its latest raid on students’ hostels in Ile-Ife under a ‘sting operation’, the EFCC escalated its notoriety in abusing people’s fundamental human rights in the course of raiding suspected internet fraudsters. This tradition is well-established in the operation of the Nigerian Police, who seek huge amounts of money for bail afterward.
Among those arrested in Ile-Ife were tech entrepreneur students of OAU, who have achieved remarkable feats.
3 days later, EFCC published his name as a fraudster after an illegal indiscriminate raid. Promising young man that they want to ruin. Another talent we will not be able to hold on to. #FreeOAUStudents https://t.co/k5QutBTDdm
— Ayobami (@dondekojo) November 1, 2023
The EFCC said without proof, that it received “actionable intelligence on their suspected involvement in fraudulent internet-related activities” and in the course of the raid, recovered items that include “exotic cars, 190 mobile phones and 40 laptops among others.”
It added that “the suspects have made useful statements to the EFCC and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” which many believe to indicate that there was no prior investigation and that whatever intelligence the commission acted on was flawed.
An official who was asked why the anti-graft agency raided Ile-Ife at night was quoted as saying: “internet fraudsters work at night, so if you’re awake at night, you’re a fraudster.”
Similar raids have been carried out in several other places across the country, with tens of internet entrepreneurs, including software engineers and forex traders, being arrested and paraded as criminals. At last, many of them were released without being charged after all.
Abiola Awoyeye, Honorable Member representing Ife Central State Constituency at the 8th Osun State House of Assembly, said late Wednesday that 58 out of the 69 arrested students have been released.
“I can confirm that 58 of the 69 people that were arrested have been released, with talks ongoing for the remaining 11,” he said.
While many of the victims of the EFCC illegal raids were eventually set free, the defamation that comes with the operation usually lives to hunt the victims for a long time.
“Imagine employers searching your name on Google and it’s showing you were arrested one time by EFCC for fraud. Something you didn’t do o,” Lola Okunrin posted on X. “EFCC is denting these students images and we all need to fight it. We can’t continue in this tyranny.”
Imagine employers searching your name on Google and it’s showing you were arrested one time by EFCC for fraud. Something you didn’t do o.
EFCC is denting these students images and we all need to fight it. We can’t continue in this tyranny. #FreeOAUStudents
— Lola Okunrin (@lollypeezle) November 1, 2023
The arrested students and OAU management have been urged to institute a class action lawsuit against the EFCC.