Olukoyede Was Misinterpreted, Never Called Seven Of 10 Nigerian Students Criminals — EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has denied reports that its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede allegedly referred to seven out of every 10 Nigerian students as criminals.

The anti-graft agency spokesperson, Dele Oyewale made this known in a statement on Thursday.

The spokesperson said the EFCC Chairman had only called for a wider media enlightenment of youths as a counter-measure against the menace of internet fraud during a recent meeting with members of Civil Society Organisations.

He added that Olukoyede noted that unless the trajectory of youth involvement in internet fraud is addressed and reversed, the future of their leadership of the country may be threatened, and if it continues in the next 10 years, seven out of 10 Nigerian youths may be getting involved in cyber crimes according to reports and intelligence available to him.

Oyewale said, “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.

“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.”