The nurses alleged prolonged injustice, intimidation, financial exploitation, and the unexplained withholding of their academic results.
Some concerned nurses of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Open and Distance Learning (ODL) nursing programme have written a formal petition to the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The nurses alleged prolonged injustice, intimidation, financial exploitation, and the unexplained withholding of their academic results.
In a detailed statement titled “Save our Souls (SOS)”, signed by Concerned Nurses of LAUTECH ODL and obtained by SaharaReporters, the nurses said they were compelled to write the open letter after exhausting patience and internal avenues without resolution.
According to the petitioners, they concluded their final examinations in 2024, and the results were officially released in May 2025.
However, they lamented that the results of a significant number of students had still not been released, with no formal academic explanation from the institution.
“We concluded our final examinations in 2024, and the results were officially released in May 2025. However, till date, the results of a significant number of us have not been released, without any formal academic explanation. Disturbingly, some of our colleagues’ results were released, some have proceeded to NYSC, others have obtained exemption letters, while the rest of us remain in academic limbo,” they said.
The group alleged that beyond the selective release of results lies a deeper and more troubling pattern of systematic extortion and financial impropriety allegedly perpetrated by class executives (excos) since their 200 Level, when they began the programme.
The nurses alleged that from 200 Level, students were repeatedly compelled to pay ₦1000 per student as “class purse” into individual personal bank accounts, with no transparency, receipts, or accountability.
They further claimed that they were made to pay sports and entertainment fees into private accounts, despite often receiving no corresponding activities or benefits.
From 300 Level, students reportedly paid ₦1000 every semester for a so-called school project into individual accounts. However, before their final examinations, they were again forced to pay large sums for the same project.
“After our final examinations, we were compelled twice to contribute money again for this same project. We were explicitly threatened that failure to pay would result in non-release of our results or automatic failure. Out of fear, we complied,” the statement said.
The petition also recalled an incident in 200 Level when it was allegedly disclosed that one of the class excos, a staff member of the State Hospital, Ota, Ogun State, embezzled about ₦5 million belonging to the class.
“In 200 Level, it was disclosed that one of the excos, a staff of State Hospital, Ota, Ogun State, allegedly embezzled about ₦5,000,000 belonging to the class. She later claimed she was ill and that her husband spent the funds on her medical care. No refund has been made till date,” the nurses alleged.
They added that when students convened a congress to discuss the issue, the then Board Secretary reportedly stormed the venue, disrupted the meeting, claimed the authorities were “aware,” and instructed the students to forget the matter entirely.
"When students convened a congress to discuss this issue, the then Board Secretary reportedly stormed the venue, disrupted the meeting, stated that the authorities were “aware,” and instructed us to forget the matter entirely."
The group further alleged that they consistently paid huge unofficial levies every semester into personal accounts for vague and irrelevant purposes, without receipts, budgets, or financial statements.
"We have consistently paid huge unofficial levies every semester into personal accounts for vague and irrelevant purposes, with no receipts, no budgets, and no financial statements," they said.
One individual, identified as Nurse Kinbokun, was singled out as having been repeatedly accused by students of dishonesty and alleged to have received funds through multiple personal accounts.
In 500 Level, first semester, the students said they were asked to pay ₦13,000, with over 200 students paying—some in cash and others into Nurse Kinbokun’s account.
They were later forced to pay an additional ₦2000 under threat of being barred from examinations, followed by another mandatory payment of ₦15,200.
The petitioners also alleged that on almost every payment, the excos added between ₦200 and ₦500 per student, claiming it was for “bank charges.”
“On almost every payment, the excos allegedly added ₦200–₦500 per student, claiming it was for “bank charges.”
"About 18,000,000 or more is said to have been embezzled by these class excos,” the statement alleged.
They further claimed that between last year and now, the excos collected money from the entire class twice and from affected students about four times, claiming they were going to “settle the school.”
"Between last year and now, the excos have collected money from the entire class twice and from affected students about four times, claiming they were going to “settle the school.” We later discovered these claims were false, serving only as another means of extortion,” they said.
The nurses alleged that students who questioned why class funds were being paid into personal accounts or who demanded the opening of a dedicated class account with published bank statements were subjected to intimidation.
According to them, such students were threatened with failure, told they would be reported to alleged collaborators within LAUTECH, and in some cases removed from class communication platforms for “questioning authority.”
“This culture of fear silenced many of us and enabled the continued abuse,” the statement added.
In the petition, the Concerned Nurses of LAUTECH ODL called on the EFCC and ICPC to urgently intervene by investigating all individual bank accounts used to collect class funds, particularly those allegedly linked to Nurse Kinbokun, who they claimed operates three separate personal accounts for the purpose.
They also demanded a full audit of all monies collected from 200 Level to 500 Level under any guise, as well as an investigation into allegations of embezzlement, extortion, coercion, and abuse of authority.
The group further requested protection for affected students from retaliation and urged the anti-graft agencies to facilitate justice that would enable the immediate and fair release of all legitimately earned academic results.
According to the petitioners, screenshots of class communications and proofs of payment into one of the individual accounts allegedly used to siphon funds were attached to the letter.
"We respectfully request that the EFCC urgently intervenes to:Investigate all individual bank accounts used to collect class funds, particularly those linked to Nurse Kinbokun, who is alleged to operate three separate personal accounts for this purpose.
"Audit all monies collected from 200 Level to 500 Level under any guise. Investigate allegations of embezzlement, extortion, coercion, and abuse of authority.
"Facilitate justice that will enable the immediate and fair release of all legitimately earned academic results.
"Attached to this letter are screenshots of class communications and proofs of payment into one of the individual accounts allegedly used to siphon public funds.
"We submit this SOS with faith in your mandate to protect Nigerians from economic crimes, regardless of where they occur," they added.