Ekiti youths storm EFCC office, protest against FUOYE’s VC over alleged graft

Students of Ekiti State under the aegis of Nigeria Youths Coalition (NYC) yesterday stormed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s office in Ibadan to protest against the alleged financial misappropriation at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE). 

The youths, led by Comrade Shina Awopeju (Coordinator) and Comrade Tetteh Ebenezer (Secretary) urged the EFCC to investigate financial misappropriation by FUOYE’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Soremilekun.

But Soremilekun in a telephone interview dismissed the allegations, saying they were not true. 

“The allegations are lies. We are already being investigated by the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). If they have good intentions, why go that far?

“It is handwork of one of the principal officers of the institution, who was suspended. The petition has been flying around for sometimes now,” he said.   

The youths, in a five-page petition to the EFCC, alleged that the university management under Soremilekun purchased Toyota Prado jeeps at an inflated cost of N25 million each. 

Other allegations include the purchase of two used Toyota Camry (2006 model) at N5.25 million and four Toyota Camry cars at the cost of N10.5 million.

They alleged that the university’s management paid N40 million into a bank account belonging to Kodelac Nigeria Limited in Ile-Ife, Osun State without due process. 

The youths also alleged that another N19 million was paid twice for a-two-block laboratory at the Ikole Campus of the institution.

According to the group, N1.98 million was paid into an unknown account operated by the university with a commercial bank for an unspecified contract.