The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that its Ibadan Zonal Command has arrested 69 internet fraud suspects in Osun State.
In a statement, the EFCC said that the suspects were arrested on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at Oduduwa Estate area of Ile-Ife, Osun State following actionable intelligence on their suspected involvement in fraudulent internet-related activities.
“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.
“The rest are: Arekemase Olayinka Ridwan, Ajigbolamu Ayomide Ademola, Asegun David Damola, Adibe Elvis Ebubechukwu, Ohakanu Chidubem, Adeoye Mayowa Irejah, Adesokan Charles Adekunle, Olorunfemi Isaac Oladimeji, Odeyemi Femi Victor, Alimi Ajibola Akorede, Okeke Ifaenyi Francis, Fawehinmi Ayomide Simeon, Soniola Olumide Elijah, Yahaya Isah Salihu, Daramola Junia Olamide, Agbabikaka Mojuolaoluwa and Kingsley Ejike Nweake.
“Others are: Camara Abdullahi, Aminu Kehinde, Bayo Adegoke Iyanuoluwa, Alao Kolawale Oluwaseun, Oloruntoba Oluwatosin Adeniyi, Idowu Philip Oluwaseun, Maiye Daniel Olasile, Oyelami Peter OLuwaseyi, Emmanuel Nsochukwu, Komolafe Tosin, Praise Izuagie, Umehidi Obinna, Olujulo Lucas Ifeoluwa, Omejeh Stanley, Latilo Tolu, Oluwaseun Akinrelere and Great Onufomah,” the commission said.
The EFCC said that exotic cars, 190 mobile phones and 40 laptops among others were recovered from the suspects.
“The suspects have made useful statements to the EFCC and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” the EFCC said.
Meanwhile, there is a brewing controversy over the status of the arrested suspects.
Some students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, earlier today stormed the EFCC zonal command’s in Ibadan to protest the arrest of their colleagues.
Videos of the protest show some of the protesting students calling on the anti-graft agency to free the detainees, whom they said were students.
Some netizens took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to berate the EFCC for allegedly arresting students and passing them off as internet fraud suspects.
@bidemi824391 tweeted, “Many of these guys are tech bros and content creators. Some of these guys even have their Medical school exam tomorrow. You just sprung into action without thorough investigation
#FreeOAUStudents. Being a youth in Nigeria shouldn’t be a sin.”
Tweeting from @datguyfemi, one Olufemi Babalola said, “They did not do any investigation before this was pulled out.”