In response to recent media reports suggesting that EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, labeled seven out of 10 Nigerian students as criminals, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) vehemently denies such claims.
According to the spokesperson for the anti-graft agency, Dele Oyewale, Olukoyede’s remarks were misconstrued.
In a statement released on Thursday, Oyewale clarified that during a meeting with Civil Society Organisations, the Chairman emphasized the need for broader media education to combat the rising issue of internet fraud among the youth.
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Oyewale stated that Olukoyede expressed concern about the current trajectory of youth involvement in cybercrimes.
The Chairman highlighted that unless this trend is addressed and reversed, there could be potential threats to the future leadership of the country. He warned that if the situation persists over the next decade, seven out of 10 Nigerian youths might be susceptible to engaging in cyber crimes.
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.”
