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EFCC’s misadventure at OAU By Bola Bolawole

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The recent misadventure of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Obafemi Awolowo University leaves sour taste in the mouth. It also, sadly and embarrassingly, reveals so many ugly details about the anti-graft agency. It reveals how amateurish it is in the way it purports to fight corruption. It reveals an obvious partisanship on the side of evil and how corrupt some of its officials could be. It reveals its arrogance and insensitivity to public opinion. A responsible agency should have been more taciturn, especially since it is in the eye of the storm in the face-off between the Senate and the Presidency. It reveals its desperation to prove that it is working; not minding to play to the gallery or dance naked in the public in the process. All the above taken together, the EFCC’s recent outing at the OAU leaves much to be desired.

The facts: EFCC dragged the immediate past acting Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Anthony Adebolu Elujoba and the Bursar, Mrs. Aderonke Elujoba, to court on corruption charges. Before this time, while he was still in office as acting VC, the EFCC’s Ibadan office had invited Elujoba; questioned and held him, releasing him only in the dead of the night. Everyone had thought that was the end of the matter. On Wednesday, June 7th when the new substantive VC, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, was being inaugurated, Elujoba disclosed that his international passport was still being held by the EFCC; he had then made a passionate plea for its release to enable him, as an “international herbalist”, as he described himself, to practice his profession. Little did anyone know that the devil was yet to do its worst! Penultimate week, Hell returned with fury as Elujoba and Akeredolu were hauled before a High court sitting at Ede in Osun state and the judge wasted no time in sending the duo to Ilesa prisons but for the vigorous – and brave and commendable – challenge mounted by a combined force of both staff and students of OAU, which forced the judge to reverse himself same day, asking Elujoba and Akeredolu to remain in EFCC custody instead. Both have since been granted bail.

Elujoba stole nothing – and the EFCC knew or should have known this. And if he at all “conspired” with anyone, it was that peace, which had eluded OAU for years, truncating academic life, should return. Again, the facts: The last few months in office of the immediate past substantive OAU VC, Prof. Tale Omole, was mired in controversy, chief of which was the skewed process of appointing Omole’s successor. It was the last straw that broke the camel’s back as the OAU community had had its cup full over what many considered as the shenanigans of past administrations, against which many petitions have been written but to which the EFCC has elected to turn a blind spot. While the Academic Staff Union of Universities was malleable, privy or consenting, the non-academic staff unions organised daily protests for months, declared Omole and the incoming “arrange VC” “persona non grata” and grounded OAU. This was the unsavoury state of affairs when President Muhammadu Buhari, Visitor to the university, cancelled the skewed VC selection process, dissolved the compromised Governing Council, and ordered the OAU Senate to elect an acting VC. Elujoba was thus virtually unanimously elected.

As Acting VC, Elujoba was exemplary. He carried everyone along, friends and foes alike; except the enemies of progress who might have been those colluding with and instigating the EFCC against Elujoba and the OAU community. Elujoba stabilized OAU and there was no unrest or closure for one second. As a result of the great job Elujoba did, OAU now has great hopes of quickly covering lost grounds and returning its academic calendar to parity with its peers. In the short time he presided (about 11 months), Elujoba brought back the glory days of Great Ife; he established the maxim of doing things right and emphasized punctuality at work. In all of these, Elujoba led by example. Little wonder, then, that at the handing over on June 7th, the entire OAU community sang Elujoba’s praises. The EFCC should have been there – and they should have dared to controvert the people’s verdict! But despite that it was workers’ positive action that brought Elujoba into office, the same workers soon pressured him to pay some of their entitlements and when Elujoba protested that there was no fund, the workers did two things. One: They uncovered a humungous amount that was hidden somewhere, unknown to many members of the administration. As alleged, this was used as sleaze fund by previous administrations. The second action taken by the workers was to go on demonstration, which was turning violent at a point and Elujoba had to consent to use the exposed fund to pay the workers. Both academic and non-academic staff got paid a part of their entitlements.

This is the money the EFCC is alleging Elujoba stole. It is instructive that Elujoba did not pay himself from the funds; he returned his own entitlement to the OAU coffers. Such is the integrity and sterling qualities of the man being hounded and vilified by the enemies of progress. If Elujoba was guilty of any offence at all, it is that he initially exceeded his approving authority, which sources said was N2.5million; but this, according to sources, is pure administrative issues which should be treated administratively – and which was done immediately a Governing Council came on board, approving and covering the payment made by Elujoba. Note that there was no Governing Council in place when Elujoba took that decision; acting in lieu, I should think, of anticipatory approval. Note also that “force majeure” compelled him to act; thus saving the situation and maintaining peace on campus, leading to the appointment of a substantive VC last June 7th. Again, the EFCC should have been at Oduduwa Hall that day to take in the atmosphere.

As an alumnus of Great Ife; parent of wards there; and a conscionable Nigerian, count me solidly on the side of Elujoba and all the steps he took to restore peace and normalcy to OAU.

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