EFCC Charges Students on Integrity, Warns Against Internet Fraud in Ekiti

​Olukoyede to Students: Shun Examination Malpractice, Internet Fraud to Secure Nigeria’s Future

​ADO-EKITI — In a robust push to catch young citizens early in the war against graft, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken its nationwide anti-corruption crusade to St. Lawrence Metro College, Ado-Ekiti, charging students to become uncompromising ambassadors of integrity and transparency.

​The Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, gave the charge during a sensitisation lecture held at the institution. Titled “Corruption: The Enemy Within and the Role of the EFCC in Sanitising Nigeria,” the engagement was designed to awaken youth consciousness regarding the dangers of economic crimes and instill ethical values from the grassroots up.

​Represented by Mr. Gbenga Adewoye, Head of the Public Affairs Department at the EFCC Ekiti Zonal Directorate, Olukoyede stressed that true national development hinges on individual character and the deliberate rejection of dishonest practices.

​Redefining Corruption: Beyond Public Coffers

​Addressing the attentive assembly of students and faculty members, the EFCC boss underscored that corruption is not restricted to the high-level misappropriation of public funds. He broadened the scope to everyday infractions that compromise societal fabric, including:

• ​Examination malpractice and certificate forgery
• ​Internet fraud (cybercrime) and identity theft
• ​Bribery, nepotism, and petty dishonesty

​”The fight against corruption must begin with individual conduct,” Olukoyede stated. “We must reject examination malpractice, shun internet fraud, and refuse any action that fails the integrity test.”

​Detailing the statutory mandate of the anti-graft agency under the EFCC Establishment Act of 2004, Olukoyede noted that the Commission is empowered to investigate and prosecute economic crimes, recover stolen assets, monitor government programmes to block leakages, and drive public enlightenment campaigns.

​Prevention Over Prosecution: The Catch-The-Malam Approach

​Highlighting the Commission’s strategic shift toward preventive measures, Olukoyede maintained that institutionalizing integrity in schools is far more cost-effective than criminal prosecution.

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​“It is cheaper to prevent corruption than to arrest a thief,” he remarked.

​To sustain this momentum, the EFCC chairman encouraged the school management to establish an Integrity Club and Zero Tolerance Club. These platforms are envisioned to engage students in constructive debates, essay competitions, and leadership drills that champion ethical behavior.

​Furthermore, students were cautioned against falling prey to fraudulent online investment schemes, fake remote job offers, and criminal elements impersonating EFCC operatives to extort unsuspecting citizens. Olukoyede introduced the Commission’s Eagle Eye App as a secure, user-friendly tool enabling citizens—including students—to report suspected financial crimes anonymously.

​School Management Commends Initiative

​In her welcome remarks, the Principal of St. Lawrence Metro College, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Bello, expressed profound gratitude to the EFCC leadership and the Ekiti Zonal Directorate for bringing the impactful programme to the school.

​She admonished the students to take the lessons to heart, embrace hard work, and steer clear of shortcuts and economic crimes for the overall betterment and dignity of Nigeria.

​The sensitisation seminar concluded with interactive sessions, reinforcing the core narrative that building a prosperous, corruption-free nation requires collective vigilance, starting with the daily choices made by the younger generation.