A group of young people staged a protest in Akure, the Ondo state capital, on Monday, against the raid by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which led to the arrest of 127 people at two nightclubs over the weekend.
Personnel of the commission reportedly stormed two nightclubs on Saturday night and arrested some youths over allegations of internet fraud activities but some of the suspects and onlookers allege that the officers brutalized them and arrested innocent people and in response, scores of protesters converged on the capital city and chanted various solidarity songs, calling on the anti-graft commission to unconditionally release those arrested.
Placards carried by the protesters had inscriptions such as “End EFCC,” “EFCC free our brothers,” “We don’t scam, give us jobs,” and “EFCC stop the extortion and harassment; “EFCC is being misused to extort, probe officials.”
A spokesman for the protesters, Oluwaseun Ogunmola, who spoke to newsmen said the fun seekers thought the EFCC operatives were armed robbers.
He said: “In Nigeria, youths cannot use phones, laptops, or drive cars because EFCC sees them as fraudsters.
“Our ladies were whisked away; did they also commit any offence? This is pure brutality. Enough is enough, and we must put an end to this.
“We demand justice in these actions; the Federal Government should please look into this case because we can’t continue to live like this.”
Also, club and hotel owners in Ondo State Lounge and Club Owners Association (OSLACOA) protested invasion.
They said the plan was to cripple their businesses and ruin nightlife in Akure and other parts of the state.
At a press conference in Akure, CEO AA Apartment Club and Lounge Services, Chairman, Mr Abayomi Ajepe, said they might be forced to sue the EFCC for ‘destroying their huge investment.’
Ajepe said the raid happened about 1:45am on Saturday morning.
“They took away the cameras, phones, CCTVs, along with about 127 people and some of them were still there. So, why are they denying their operations here in Akure? We want the government to check-mate this unacceptable attitude in our community, and the government needs to come to our aides.
“We are still consulting our lawyers, either to take legal actions on the issues and since the incident happened, no business again,” Ajepe said.
Prince Ayo Alabi, whose business was also affected, alleged that the anti-graft agency carted away expensive drinks, destroyed the CCTV cameras, and brutalised customers who came to enjoy their weekend.
Ayo Abass Akinwande said: “About 1:30am on Saturday June 8, 2024, the men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) came into our premises. There were about 40 of them and they came with about 10 unregistered Toyota buses. The only thing that could be used to identify them was their red jackets and the guns. The introduction they gave to the security men at our gate who couldn’t identify them immediately was beatings and some of them sustained injuries in the process.”
Responding to the incident, the EFCC insist their raid was legal and their operatives conducted themselves in a professional manner. In a statement on their X (formerly Twitter) handle, the anti-graft agency spokesman, Dele Oyewale, wrote:
EFCC’s Akure Arrests: Setting the Records Straight.
Arising from the misinformation and distortion of facts about the arrest of 127 suspected internet fraudsters by operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Saturday, June 8, 2024, it becomes imperative to clearly present the true facts of the operation.
The Operatives executed a classical sting operation at two Clubs simultaneously in Akure based on credible intelligence, leading to the arrest of the suspected fraudsters. The operation, in line with the established ground norm for such engagement, was devoid of any incident as the Operatives conducted themselves professionally.
It was therefore shocking to be confronted with narratives particularly from the social media about brutalisation, including a trending video of two ladies showing bodies lacerated by whips. The Commission wants the public to discountenance this video as it may have been stage managed to achieve motives that are unclear. The Commission will subject this video to forensic analysis to establish its falsehood and prepare a case against purveyors of this distasteful stunt.
The Commission wishes to state that no suspect was assaulted, brutalised or subjected to any dehumanising treatment during the Saturday operation. It is also false that tear gas was fired at the crime scene. Those familiar with the Commission’s operations know that EFCC personnel do not use tear gas during sting operation. The officers that carried out the arrests neither came to the scene of crime with canister of tear gas nor whips, to inflict bodily injuries on suspects.
It is also important to state that no damage was done to the CCTV facility at the scene of the arrest. The device was removed by a staff of the Club at the instance of operatives of the Commission to preserve the footages for further analysis of the role of each of the arrested suspects in the alleged crime. Specifically, one of the arrested suspects, the manager of the Club, who confessed to the crime and directed the removal of the CCTV device for further investigative works by the Commission, is in the custody of the EFCC with the CCTV. He is assisting in the investigation of the crime.
It is needful to state, for the umpteenth time, that the Standard Operating Procedure of the EFCC foreclose the use of brute force or unprofessional conduct in the course of any operation. The EFCC is a civilized law enforcement agency with optimal respect for human dignity and the rule of law.
Meanwhile, profiling of suspects arrested at the scene of the crime has been completed. They will be prosecuted accordingly.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
June 9, 2024
