Human rights lawyer and former National Human Rights Commission chairman Chidi Anselm Odinkalu has criticised a statement by the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging that 60% of Nigerian tertiary students are criminals.
Odinkalu, a professor and former senior manager at the Open Society Justice Initiative, described the claim as “irresponsible and unconscionable,” arguing that it amounts to unlawful profiling and undermines constitutional protections.
“Let’s be clear: the claim by the chairman of the EFCC labelling 60% of students in Nigeria’s tertiary universities as criminals is plainly irresponsible and unconscionable,” he said.
He said the EFCC has no statutory authority to profile any group based on social status, adding that such action violates provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
“It is not law enforcement,” Odinkalu said.
He added that young Nigerians already face significant social and economic pressures and should not be “officially labelled as expendable” by a federal agency.
Odinkalu also questioned the basis of the EFCC’s claim, saying no study or survey has been made public to support it.
“If it had, then the report should be made public so its claims can be assessed,” he said.
The legal expert further criticised the EFCC for what he described as a lack of focus on politically exposed persons and high-profile corruption cases, which he said fall within its core mandate.
“The EFCC was established to go after high-profile criminals and politically exposed persons. Those are not students,” he said.
He also referenced unresolved high-profile cases and compliance with Supreme Court orders, arguing that the agency’s enforcement record remains weak.
“The Commission seems wired to fail in bringing senior politicians to account,” he said.
Odinkalu urged the EFCC to prioritise corruption cases involving public officials rather than targeting students.
The EFCC had not responded to the remarks at the time of filing this report.
