EFCC Bans Night Arrest

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has banned its men from arresting any suspected person or group of people attempting to commit financial crime at night.

The act of arresting suspects while attempting to commit crime known as “Sting Operation” was banned on Wednesday by the new Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede following the aftermath of the mass arrest of students in Osun State at night by officials of the commission.

The EFCC boss, Ola Olukoyede, directed that sting operations at night time be stopped in all the commands of the EFCC. He stated this in a statement signed by the EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, and posted on the official social media handles of the Commission on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.

According to the statement, the order is in line with the newly-reviewed procedures on arrest and bail of suspects by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had arrested 69 suspected internet fraudsters others known as yahoo boys in Osun State at night on Wednesday early morning.

Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, thereafter staged a protest on Wednesday, November 1, over the arrest of their colleagues who were arrested by the command during a midnight raid.

It was gathered that the suspects were arrested at Oduduwa Estate area of Ile-Ife following actionable intelligence on their suspected involvement in fraudulent internet-related activities, according to EFCC statement.

The earlier EFCC statement confirming the mass night arrest reads thus: “Credible intelligence linked Oduduwa Estate with activities of suspected internet fraudsters. The suspects are: Dankuwo Eniola Erioluwa, Mustapha Monsuru Oluwanisola, Adeyeye Timilehin Ebenezer, Toromade Hammed Adedeji, Busari Abdulazeez Ayodeji, Adeleye Olumuyiwa Emmanuel, Oluwasakin Moyosore Favour, Olubini Pere Michael, Oluwadara Emmanuel Benny, Gbadamosi Okikola Omotola, Okusipe Tobiloba Paul, Nnekwelugo Enaemeka, Aghwaritoma Wisdom, Adesina Gbolahan Khalid and Micheal Olugoke Oluwaseun.

“Others are: Obafemi Joshua Mayowa, Eronmonsele Anthony Igberaese, Salau Oluwawumi, Jaiyeola Yinka Temitope, Ajayi Ayodeji Olanrenwaju, Oguntade Oluwabukunmi David, Abdulmumini Abdulsamad, Tolulope Oduola Folaranmi, Kayode Abdulraheem Ajuwon, Akinyemi Oluwagbenro Aduragbemi, Ayodeji Olumose Adedeji, Alawode Femi Segun, Junaid Hafiz Adeyinka, Akolade Oladele Sunday, Oyeniyi Banji Andrew, Oladusu Lanrinde Morakinyo, Ojo John Ifeoluwa, Akwuaka Tochukwu Blaise and Ogunleye Daniel Ayobami and Adebowale Omodesire Diekola”

We learnt that 58 out of the 69 confirmed suspects were released same Wednesday by the EFCC after the officials, around 2am, stormed the Fine Touch and Superb hostels in Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife, broke into rooms, and arrested the students.

National Association Of University Students condemned the arrest of the students by the EFCC. In a statement signed by its National Director of Security and Safety, Eruobami Ayobami; Deputy National President, Babalola Daniel; and the Vice Chairman of NAUS in the state, Akinyemi Hammed, the students’ leadership faults the process and actions of the commission, saying, “It is important that as students leaders, the security and safety of our students is paramount to us and the action of the EFCC is synonymous to an action of gang of thieves and burglars.”

EFCC boss in a statement, banning the arrest of suspected persons attempting to crime at night said quotes thus: “In line with the newly-reviewed procedures on arrest and bail of suspects by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Mr. 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 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”.