Students of Goodwill Private Schools in Ikorodu, Lagos State, were left stranded as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives sealed off the school premises, disrupting academic activities.
EFCC operatives stormed the school premises fully armed, occupied the building, and halted all educational activities, leaving students and teachers stranded.
source expressed concern over the sudden disruption, noting that it could have long-term effects on the children’s education, especially as many students are preparing for critical examinations.
“This is very frustrating. Some students are in their final year. Now, they cannot access their classrooms, and we have no clear explanation of when the operatives will leave and when school activities will resume,” the source said.
Reporters learnt that the incident, which occurred on February 28, 2025, involved heavily armed EFCC officers invading the school premises, preventing students and staff from entering the building and disrupting their daily activities.
Eyewitnesses reported that the EFCC operatives arrived in a convoy of vehicles, fully armed, and proceeded to mark the walls of the school, declaring that the property was under EFCC investigation.
A source on Tuesday told Reporters that the operatives threatened to shoot anyone who attempted to enter the premises, causing panic among the students and staff.
The source revealed that the EFCC operatives had initially attempted to arrest the Vice Principal of the school, Mr. Ayinla Olalekan, but were met with resistance from the students and staff, who insisted that they would all follow the operatives to Ikoyi if the Vice Principal was taken.
According to the source, this led to the operatives backing down and leaving the Vice Principal behind.
However, the school remains under occupation by the EFCC, with no clear explanation as to why they are preventing the students from learning.
Another source explained that the root of the issue lies in a property dispute involving the school’s proprietor, FCMB (First City Monument Bank), and a third party.
In 2013, the proprietor took a loan of N30,000,000 from FCMB, using the school property as collateral. When the proprietor was unable to service the loan, FCMB sought to sell the property.
However, the proprietor argued that the property had been undervalued and requested a revaluation, which revealed that the property was worth N245,000,000, significantly higher than the N87,000,000 valuation initially provided by FCMB.
despite this, FCMB proceeded to sell the property for N90,000,000 to a third party, without the proprietor’s consent.
The source said that the proprietor and the school’s legal team contested the sale, arguing that FCMB had not followed the proper legal procedures. FCMB eventually acknowledged the error and began discussions to resolve the matter amicably.
However, the third party, who had purchased the property, refused to accept a refund and instead petitioned the EFCC, alleging that FCMB had defrauded her.
The EFCC subsequently brought the case to court, asserting that the property was obtained through criminal activities and sought its forfeiture to the federal government.
The source said, “The property was commissioned in February 2004 by Dr. Olusegun Agagu, who was then the governor of Ondo State.
“He travelled to Lagos to commission the property, and various loans were obtained from multiple banks, including Intercontinental Bank, where we secured ₦15,000,000; the Nigerian Police Cooperative, which provided another ₦15,000,000; and UBA, which granted ₦40,000,000.
“Additionally, funds from school fees were used for the construction. Given these financial sources, there could not have been any proceeds from criminal activity or illegality.
“More so, this woman filed a petition against FCMB, not us. FCMB did not complain about us.
“FCMB did not submit any petition to the EFCC. It was this woman who claimed that the money she paid in August 2023 was used to build the property and that the funds were proceeds of crime. That was the basis of the EFCC’s case in court.
“But we presented documents proving otherwise. How can someone claim that a payment made in 2023 was used to construct a property that was completed and commissioned in 2004—19 years before the alleged transaction? And yet, they claim it is from proceeds of crime and should be forfeited to the federal government in favour of the petitioner. This was perplexing.”
Continuing, the source said, “So, we submitted all relevant documents to the court. In fact, we provided 19 documents demonstrating that the property was not acquired through criminal proceeds. Meanwhile, the EFCC had already approached the court seeking forfeiture of the property on the grounds that it was obtained through illicit means.
“At what point does a civil transaction between private parties become a crime? We presented our evidence, and the court adjourned the matter to April 7, 2025, for hearing. Anticipating EFCC’s possible actions, we urged the court to prevent the agency from occupying the property. The court ruled that such an act was impossible.
“Even the EFCC lawyer, Hannatu Umar Kofarnaisa Esq, who was present in court, assured that the agency would not seize the property. Based on that assurance, we agreed to the adjournment.”
“However, to our surprise, the EFCC later arrived with armed operatives on February 28, 2025. They began writing on the walls, declaring that the property had been taken over by the EFCC and that everyone should vacate,” the source explained.
According to the source, “In response, we immediately wrote to the court that same day, reminding it of our earlier concerns”.
The source said, “Later that day, more EFCC operatives arrived, waving guns in the air. The students were terrified, running in all directions. One of them even started vomiting due to the distress.
“Parents also panicked, and the entire school was thrown into chaos.
“The vice principal, Mr. Ayinla Olalekan, was threatened with arrest. When they attempted to take him away, the students and staff stood their ground, saying, ‘Don’t take him alone—take all of us. We will follow you to Ikoyi.’ It was at that moment that they backed down and left the vice principal.
As of now, the EFCC still occupies the premises. We don’t even know who they are fighting for.”
The source told Reporters that contrary to these assurances, the EFCC operatives stormed the school on February 28, 2025, causing chaos and disrupting academic activities.
The source, however, expressed his dismay at the EFCC’s actions, stating that the school had no involvement in the dispute between FCMB and the third party and that the EFCC’s actions were unjustified.
“The incident has left the school community in disarray, with students, teachers, and parents traumatised by the heavy-handed tactics employed by the EFCC,” one of the sources said.
Meanwhile, in a complaint document dated February 27, 2025, filed by the defendant’s counsel at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, with suit number FHC/L/MISC/702/2024, it was disclosed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had been visiting Goodwill Private School’s property in Ikorodu at odd hours to serve a purported document.
However, the situation escalated when EFCC operatives, accompanied by armed men, invaded the school while students were in their classrooms.
A document obtained by Reporter revealed that Dr. Benson Enikuomehin, counsel for the defendant, warned that any interference with the Res (subject matter of the case) while the suit was pending would have serious consequences.
The court assured that such interference would not occur, particularly as the EFCC was represented in court by Hannatu Umar Kofarnaisa, Esq.
Kofarnaisa concurred with the court, affirming that the EFCC would not take any adverse action regarding the Res until the matter was heard. She then requested a long adjournment, and the court subsequently scheduled the next hearing for April 7, 2025.
The statement read, “The above-mentioned suit came before His Lordship Hon. Justice A. O. Owoeye on the 5th day of February, 2025 in which Dr. Benson Enikuomehin represented the parties whose interest are affected in the suit. Hannatu Umar Kofarnaisa Esq. represented the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission.
“It was the contention of Dr. Benson Enikuomehin of counsel that the Defendant would take adverse effect to tamper with the Res while the suit is pending before the Court. The Court assured that none of such thing would happen particularly that the EFCC was represented in court by Hannatu Umar Kofarnaisa Esq.
“Hannatu Umar Kofarnaisa Esq concurred with the Court that the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission will not do anything untoward about the Res until the matter would be heard. She thereafter sought for a long adjournment for which the matter was adjourned till 7th April, 2025.
“The Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (as anticipated) has been going to Goodwill Private School’s property in Ikorodu at awkward times to serve a purported document. The climax of their action came today when they invaded the school with armed men while the students were in their various classrooms.”
According to the document, “there was pandemonium everywhere and the disruption of academic work”.
It said, “The chaos affected the neighborhood and sent everyone running helter-skelter.
“The action taken by EFCC today the 27th day of February, 2025 runs fowl of the undertaking given by Hannatu Umar Kofarnaisa Esq before His Lordship. We attach herewith photographic and recorded video evidence of the onslaught of the operatives of the EFCC on Goodwill Private School at Ikorodu this 27th day of February, 2025.
“We are of the strong view that the EFCC is not a law unto itself and should therefore not take law into its hands in a matter that is pending before the Honourable Court. By the action of the EFCC, the Commission intends to foist a fait accompli on the Honourable Court on the next adjourned date. The Commission has by this action indicated that it does not respect the rule of law, but will only use the court to achieve its aim.”
“In the light of the above, we humbly request the Honourable Court to abridge the time in which this matter will be heard,” the statement added.
Attempts to contact EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, via phone on Wednesday were unsuccessful.
However, while speaking with Reporters on Monday, he denied that the operatives of the agency forcefully entered the school.
He stated that no prior notice was necessary for their visit, as it was a routine procedure to prevent tampering with the property, which he described as proceeds of crime.
“The visit was routine to secure the property and not an invasion. The property is from proceeds of crime, and our officers went there just inspect it, as the case is still under investigation,” he said.