Sowore Accuses EFCC of “Hunting Down” Citizens Over Alleged Cyberbullying

AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the detention and arraignment of two people accused of cyberbullying the agency.

Sowore said he attended two separate court proceedings involving the defendants before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, where he alleged that both individuals had spent close to 30 days in detention before being brought before the court.

According to him, rather than being allowed to return home while their cases continue, both defendants were remanded in prison custody.

Sowore identified one of the defendants as Maryam Isa Shehu, a final-year student of Bayero University Kano (BUK). He said she was remanded at Suleja Prison, while the other defendant was sent to Kuje Prison.

He said both defendants are expected to remain in custody until August 31.

Sowore described Maryam’s situation as particularly concerning because she is expected to begin her final university examinations on Saturday.

“What makes Maryam’s situation even more disturbing is that she is a final-year university student who is due to begin her final examinations this Saturday,” Sowore said.

“None of that appeared to matter.”

The AAC candidate accused the EFCC, under its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, of going beyond its anti-corruption mandate by pursuing citizens over criticism and alleged cyberbullying.

“The @officialEFCC under Ola Olukoyede is inherently evil,” Sowore said.

He questioned why an agency established to fight financial crimes would be involved in the detention and prosecution of citizens over alleged cyberbullying.

“An anti-corruption agency should be fighting corruption, not turning itself into an institution for hunting down, detaining and prosecuting citizens over criticism or alleged ‘cyberbullying,’” he said.

Sowore further questioned the decision to keep the defendants in prison after they had already spent nearly a month in detention before their arraignment.

“What kind of institution detains a university student for nearly a month, arraigns her for allegedly cyberbullying the agency, and then seeks to keep her behind bars while her final examinations are about to begin?” he asked.

The comments come as the EFCC continues to pursue cases involving alleged online offences, while concerns over the use of criminal proceedings in response to criticism and social media activity continue to generate public debate.

Sowore’s comments are his account of the court proceedings and the circumstances surrounding the defendants’ detention. The allegations against the defendants remain before the court.

23-Year-Old Law School Student Dies After Fall at Lagos Campus

The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the death of 23-year-old Faith Ajoke Alayande, a student of the Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus, Victoria Island.

Alayande was reportedly found dead within the hostel premises on Friday, August 7, 2026, after she allegedly fell from the rooftop of a four-storey hostel building.

According to the police, a note believed to have been left by the deceased was reportedly discovered by her hostel mate and a relative, who had begun searching for her before she was found.

The incident was reported to the Victoria Island Police Division by the Chief Matron of the hostel at about 6:30 a.m.

Following the report, police officers visited the scene and evacuated Alayande’s body to a morgue for preservation.

The Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the incident and said investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.

The police are expected to examine the circumstances leading to the incident as part of the ongoing investigation.

Alayande’s death has also sparked emotional reactions from people who knew her during her academic journey.

Uchenna Marvin, who said he supervised Alayande during her university years, described her death as heartbreaking.

Marvin recalled that Alayande had previously engaged in academic discussions concerning the right to life and the right to die while working on research related to Medical Law.

Her death has therefore come as a shock to those who knew her, particularly members of the academic community who had followed her development as a law student.

Alayande had completed her university education before proceeding to the Nigerian Law School earlier in 2026 to continue her legal studies.

The circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation, and authorities have not announced any conclusion regarding the events that preceded the incident.

The Nigerian Law School community and those who knew the deceased are expected to await the outcome of the police investigation as efforts continue to establish what happened.

They Sent Their Children Abroad, Now They Want Yours to Take Student Loans” — Sowore Slams Nigerian Leaders

African Action Congress (AAC) leader and presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticized several top Nigerian political figures for sending their children to universities abroad while, according to him, failing to build or strengthen the country’s public education system.

Sowore made the remarks while sharing photographs of the children of prominent politicians, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, Anambra State Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo and Minister of Works David Umahi, celebrating their graduations from universities overseas.

According to Sowore, the images highlight what he described as the disconnect between Nigeria’s political elite and the realities facing millions of ordinary citizens who rely on the country’s struggling public education system.

“These are the same people who have served as governors, ministers of education, senators, and other top public officials, yet they never built or strengthened a single university they were proud or comfortable enough to send their own children to,” Sowore said.

He argued that while political leaders enrol their children in some of the world’s best universities, many Nigerian students are left to contend with underfunded institutions, prolonged academic disruptions and deteriorating infrastructure.

Sowore also criticised the Federal Government’s student loan programme, saying it places additional financial pressure on families already grappling with economic hardship.

“Instead, they ask ordinary Nigerians to celebrate student loans while millions of families are already overburdened by economic hardship,” he stated.

The AAC presidential candidate questioned whether the same leaders who champion the student loan initiative relied on such loans to educate their own children abroad.

“Ask yourself, did Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nyesom Wike, Charles Chukwuma Soludo, Senator Engineer David Nweze Umahi, CON, and others take out student loans to send their children to universities in the United Kingdom? The answer is no,” he said.

According to Sowore, resources that should have been invested in improving Nigeria’s universities have instead been used to sustain what he described as the privileges of the country’s political class.

“Their children attended some of the best universities abroad, while public universities at home were neglected.

“The public resources that should have transformed education for millions of Nigerians instead financed the lifestyles and privileges of a political elite,” he alleged.

He further argued that many young Nigerians are now left with limited options, claiming that government policies are pushing children from less privileged backgrounds either to borrow money to pursue higher education or to enlist in the military.

“They are either asking the children of the poor to borrow to go to school or asking them to join the Nigerian Army to go die for their children,” Sowore said.

Calling for political change, the AAC leader maintained that Nigeria requires leaders who will prioritise investments in education and create equal opportunities for all citizens regardless of their social status.

“If our country is to have a fresh lease of life, these wicked men must be urgently replaced with leadership committed to investing in the education and future of all Nigerians, not just the privileged few,” he added.

The comments come amid ongoing debates over the condition of Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, government funding of public universities and the implementation of the student loan scheme.

‘No Child Will Pay WAEC or NECO Fees Under My Government’ — Sowore Unveils 20-Point Education Plan for 2027

Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential hopeful Omoyele Sowore has unveiled a 20-point education blueprint, promising free education at all levels and the abolition of WAEC, NECO and other public examination fees if elected president in 2027.

The proposal comes amid public debate over the Federal Government’s approval of a new ₦50,000 registration fee for WAEC and NECO examinations beginning in 2027.

In a statement released alongside a series of illustrated policy cards, Sowore said no Nigerian child would be required to pay for public examinations under his administration.

“Education will be free because knowledge is a right, not a privilege,” he said.

According to Sowore, his education policy aims to provide free, high-quality education from early childhood through university while expanding access to technology, improving learning facilities and strengthening support for teachers and students.

Among the proposals are free education at every level, semester grants for students in public tertiary institutions, universal early childhood education, and a restructuring of the education system.

The plan also includes digital classrooms, artificial intelligence and coding education, community colleges in every local government area, expanded technical and vocational training, and reforms for polytechnics.

Sowore further proposed better salaries and improved welfare for teachers, greater university autonomy, protection of student unionism, increased funding for research and innovation, upgraded school infrastructure, school feeding programmes and stronger support for students with disabilities.

He said the goal is to ensure that no child’s educational opportunities are determined by poverty.

“This is not a promise of politics. It is a revolutionary commitment to build a nation where no child’s future is determined by poverty,” he stated.

The AAC candidate encouraged Nigerians to study the proposals, debate them and support what he described as a vision for transforming the country’s education sector.

His announcement is expected to fuel discussions on education financing, particularly following concerns raised by parents and education stakeholders over the planned increase in examination fees.

While Sowore’s proposals outline what he says his administration would pursue if elected, they remain campaign promises that would require electoral victory, legislative support and government implementation before they could become policy.

Highlights of Sowore’s 20-Point Education Plan

• Free education from nursery to university.
• No WAEC, NECO or other public examination fees.
• Semester grants for public tertiary institution students.
• Better salaries and welfare for teachers.
• AI, coding and digital education in schools.
• Community colleges in every local government area.
• Expansion of technical and vocational education.
• Greater university autonomy and protection of student unionism.
• Increased investment in research, innovation and school infrastructure.
• Inclusive education and improved student welfare programmes.

WAEC, NECO Fees to Rise to N50,000 From 2027 as FG Approves New Uniform Charge

 The Federal Government has approved a new registration fee of N50,000 for candidates sitting the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), beginning with the 2027 examination cycle.

The decision marks a significant increase from the current N27,500 registration fee and introduces a single, uniform fee for both examination bodies.

According to an official statement dated June 18 and signed by Adeniji Ibrahim, Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, the approval followed a request by WAEC for a review of the existing examination charges.

The ministry explained that the issue was discussed during a meeting between the Minister of Education and representatives of examination bodies held on March 31, 2026.

Following the meeting, the minister directed WAEC and NECO to adopt a uniform examination fee for the Senior School Certificate Examination.

The statement said the approved fee of N50,000 per candidate will take effect from the 2027 NECO Senior School Certificate Examination (Internal) and is expected to apply to WAEC examinations as well.

The new fee represents an increase of approximately 82 percent over the current registration cost.

Education officials said the directive should be communicated to all relevant stakeholders to ensure adequate preparation before implementation begins.

The announcement is expected to generate reactions from parents, students, school owners and education advocates, especially amid concerns over the rising cost of education and the economic challenges facing many Nigerian households.

If implemented as approved, candidates registering for the 2027 WAEC and NECO Senior School Certificate Examinations will pay N50,000 each, making it one of the most significant fee adjustments in recent years.

‘Afrika’s Ideals Could Not Be Buried’ — Sowore Pays Emotional Tribute to OAU Student Leader Killed 27 Years Ago

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has paid tribute to George Iwilade, popularly known as “Afrika,” describing the late Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) student leader as a symbol of courage whose legacy continues to inspire generations of Nigerian students.

In a message marking the 27th anniversary of Afrika’s death, Sowore reflected on their shared commitment to the student movement and the fight against injustice.

According to him, July 10, 2026, marked 27 years since the 300-level Law student and Secretary-General of the OAU Students’ Union Government was killed during a violent attack on the university campus in 1999.

Sowore described Afrika as “vibrant, brilliant and courageous,” saying his death transformed him from a student activist into a lasting symbol of resistance within Nigeria’s student movement.

Sharing a photograph taken before Afrika’s death, Sowore recalled participating in a solidarity protest in Yaba, Lagos, alongside the late student leader and then OAU Students’ Union President, Lanre Adeleke, popularly known as “Legacy.”

The protest, he said, was organised to oppose what he described as the persecution of OAU students at the time.

“We stood together under a massive police cordon, refusing to be intimidated,” Sowore said, adding that the demonstration reflected the determination of student activists to defend justice despite the risks involved.

He noted that although he left Nigeria in February 1999, months before the attack that claimed Afrika’s life, they had worked together on several student struggles.

Reflecting on the anniversary, Sowore said Afrika’s ideals outlived his death.

“His life was cut short, but his ideals could not be buried. Twenty-seven years later, we still remember him not merely for how he died, but for how he lived: fearless, principled, and unwavering in pursuing justice,” he wrote.

George Iwilade remains one of the most remembered figures in the history of Nigerian student activism. Every year, students, alumni and civil society groups commemorate the anniversary of his death and that of four other students killed during the 1999 campus attack, often referred to as the “OAU Five.”

The anniversary continues to serve as a reminder of the campaign against cult-related violence in Nigerian universities and the sacrifices made by student leaders who challenged it.

Ogun Government Directs Schools to Stop Graduation, End-of-Session Parties

 

The Ogun State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has directed administrators of public and private schools across the state to stop organizing graduation ceremonies and end-of-session parties.

The directive was contained in a circular issued by the Department of Private Schools and addressed to administrators of both public and non-state (private) schools.

According to the circular, the ministry observed that some school administrators had begun collecting money from parents and guardians under the guise of organizing graduation and end-of-session events for learners.

The ministry stated that such activities are contrary to resolutions reached during the 2025/2026 pre-resumption stakeholders’ meeting held in September 2025 at Lisabi Grammar School, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta.

The circular noted that the state government frowns on the organization of graduation and end-of-session ceremonies in all classes in both public and private schools across the state.

It further warned that any school found violating the directive would face sanctions.

The ministry also directed education officers and school administrators to give the circular wide publicity to ensure compliance.

The circular was signed by A.A. Bisiriyu, Director of Education (Private Schools), for the Permanent Secretary.