The management of the Federal University of Technology Akure has dismissed reports that officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission invaded students within hostels in the university.
This was disclosed by the Director of Corporate Communication FUTA, Adegbenro Adebanjo in a statement on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the EFCC only incident happened in private hostels off campus.
He said the management of the university is working round the clock to ascertain the identity of those arrested and validate their studentship and also to ensure that innocent FUTA students are not punished for offences they have not committed.
The statement reads in part, “The attention of the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA has been drawn to an incident involving some operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC who raided some private hostels in the Orita Obele area of Akure metropolis where some students of the University reside.
“Contrary to some false reports making the round, the operatives of EFCC did not invade FUTA and there was no operation whatsoever within the hostels or precincts of the University. The Incident in question happened in private hostels off campus.
“However the University expresses strong reservation about the timing and mode of the operation said to have taken place around 2 AM on Wednesday February 14, 2024.
“Reports indicate that the operatives barged in and violently woke sleeping students and treated them most unfairly in the course of the operation. Such patently dangerous tactics should not have been employed by the operatives.
“The process should always follow the due process without causing harm or injuries to anybody physically or psychologically. Indeed but for providence something untoward could have happened in the course of the operation carried out in the off campus hostels.
“The University is in touch with the EFCC to ascertain the identity of those arrested and validate their studentship and also to ensure that innocent FUTA students are not punished for offences they have not committed.
“FUTA abhors all forms of anti-social practices including acts of criminality in all its forms and supports all initiatives to bring perpetrators to face the consequences of their actions within the ambits of the law.
“The University rules and regulations as contained in the Students Code of Conduct as stipulated in the University Handbook and oath of Matriculation which all students are made to sign specifically prescribes varying degree of punishment for students who run afoul of the laws governing their studentship or engage in illegal acts or odious behavior. The Handbook will guide the University in the current situation.”
