The management of Goodwill School, Ikorodu, Lagos, has accused operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of forcefully invading the school premises, allegedly harassing teachers and students while enforcing a court order.
Speaking to journalists, the Acting Vice Principal, Mr. Olalekan Adewale, recounted how EFCC operatives stormed the classrooms last Thursday, announcing that the school had been taken over through a final forfeiture order granted in January 2025.
He claimed that the officials arrived unannounced, leaving students in shock.
“One pupil was so traumatized that she began vomiting. It was a terrifying experience for the children and teachers alike,” Adewale stated.
The vice-principal alleged that armed EFCC operatives attempted to force him to sign a document he knew nothing about. He also claimed they threatened to arrest him but changed their minds after students and teachers insisted on following him to the agency’s Lagos Island office.
The situation escalated on Friday, February 28, 2025, when EFCC officers allegedly returned and ordered all students and staff to vacate the premises.
“The children were gathered for morning devotion when gun-wielding EFCC officials arrived and ordered everyone to leave. It felt like a war situation,” Adewale lamented, adding that he pleaded with the operatives not to disrupt the primary section due to the presence of younger children.
Similarly, the school proprietor, Mr. Omoniyi Enikuomehin, condemned the action, accusing EFCC officials of forcefully evicting students and staff. He confirmed that the vice principal had refused to sign the EFCC’s letter without management’s approval.
Reacting to the allegations, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyawale dismissed claims of an invasion, insisting that the school management was fully aware that the property was under investigation.
“The commission did not storm the school. This was a routine operation to ensure that the property was not tampered with. The court had already granted a final forfeiture order,” Oyawale explained.
He justified the presence of armed operatives, emphasizing that law enforcement officers must always be prepared for possible resistance.
“The argument that people were chased out is baseless. They were not supposed to be on the premises at all,” he added.
While the EFCC maintains that it acted within the law, the school’s management continues to insist that the operation caused undue distress to students and staff.
