*Probes VCs Over Inflated Contracts, Students’ Fees Diversion
*NANS Rejects Fraudulent Practices Comment, Demands Retraction
CHAIRMAN of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has expressed concern that about six in every 10 university students in Nigeria are involved in cybercrime.
A statement by the Commission’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said Olukoyede spoke on Tuesday, April 28, at the opening of the 8th biennial conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-owned Universities in Nigeria (COPSUN), held in Kano, with the theme, ‘Unlocking the potentials of artificial intelligence: University governance, internationalisation and rankings.’
Olukoyede said findings from recent EFCC field operations showed a troubling level of internet fraud involvement among undergraduates.
“My research in the last one year has shown that about six out of 10 students in our universities are into cybercrime. It is a very disturbing situation,” he said, blaming the trend on what he described as deep-seated structural problems within the university system, including weak oversight and poor accountability mechanisms.
He disclosed that many of those arrested in recent cybercrime sting operations were students, some of whom allegedly placed lecturers on payroll, thereby undermining academic integrity, adding that quite a number of the 792 suspected cyber fraudsters arrested in Lagos in December 2024 were students, thereby exposing the scale of cybercrime networks operating in the country.
Olukoyede also expressed concern over the rise of “Yahoo Plus,” where Internet fraud is allegedly combined with fetish practices.
While urging university authorities to strengthen institutional controls and deepen cooperation with law enforcement agencies to address the problem, the EFCC boss added: “A university that lacks financial accountability cannot credibly train future professionals. The integrity of our universities is a matter of national security.”
He advocated the use of artificial intelligence in fraud detection, payroll management, procurement monitoring and academic integrity, saying this could help flag suspicious transactions, detect irregular salary payments and enhance real-time auditing processes, adding that the Commission has already begun deploying AI in its investigations, including digital forensics and financial tracking.
The EFCC boss also decried the diversion of students’ fees and other financial infractions in Nigerian universities, cautioning that such practices undermine the integrity of the education system.
He said EFCC’s investigations uncovered cases involving inflated contracts, ghost workers and diversion of students’ fees in tertiary institutions across the country, adding: “Each case represented not only a loss of public funds, but also a betrayal of the trust that Nigerian parents, students, and taxpayers have placed in the university system.”
Olukoyede said universities manage multi-billion naira budgets, including tuition, TETFund allocations and research grants, yet accountability challenges persist; hence the need for then to adopt AI in their financial and ethical management systems to curb corruption, enhance transparency and improve governance.
Olukoyede warned that Nigerian universities must not be left behind in the global shift towards technology-driven governance, noting: “A university that lacks financial accountability cannot credibly train future accountants and auditors, and one that tolerates fraud cannot produce the ethical professionals our economy needs.”
He listed fraud detection, automated auditing, payroll monitoring, procurement processes and academic integrity systems as areas AI could be deployed, urging universities’ governing councils to establish AI and digital governance committees, develop digital integrity strategies and invest in infrastructure such as broadband, cybersecurity and cloud systems.
He, however, cautioned that technology alone cannot solve corruption without addressing human integrity, stating: “No matter how sophisticated the technology might be, its effectiveness ultimately depends on the integrity of the human beings who will utilise the tools.”
He called for collaboration between universities, the EFCC and other agencies in training and intelligence sharing, saying the fight against corruption requires collective effort.
However, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has rejected Olukoyede’s assertion that a majority of Nigerian university students are involved in cybercrime.
NANS, in a statement by its Senate President, Usman Adamu Nagwaza, described the claim as “misleading, unfounded and unacceptable” and not reflective of the reality of Nigerian students.
Nagwaza said the students’ body was concerned about the implications of the comment, arguing that while the student body remains firmly opposed to all forms of financial crimes, it was inappropriate to generalise criminal behaviour to a majority of the student population.
“The claim that six out of 10 university students are involved in cybercrime is not only fallacious, but also capable of bringing the entire student community into disrepute,” he said, even as he decried a growing perception that the EFCC’s enforcement efforts are disproportionately focused on cyber-related offences, while high-profile corruption cases involving politically exposed persons appear to receive less visible attention.
Nagwaza urged EFCC to refocus its operations in line with its statutory mandate and avoid actions or statements that could be interpreted as selective enforcement, and Olukoyede to retract the statement in the interest of fairness and national cohesion.
He insisted that Nigerian students are largely law-abiding and committed to academic and professional development, saying: “We support the fight against corruption in all its forms, however, we reject any narrative that unfairly labels Nigerian students as criminals.
“Such assertions are not only inaccurate, but also damaging to the morale and reputation of young people striving to contribute positively to society.”
NANS restated its commitment to nation-building, saying Nigerian youths remain a critical asset in driving innovation, development and global competitiveness.
