There was outrage in Akure, the capital of Ondo state, over the raid on nightclubs in the state by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC on Saturday, June 8, raided nightclubs in Akure in a sting operation and arrested some persons over suspected fraud.
Angered by the action of the EFCC, some youths and family members of the suspects arrested staged a peaceful in Akure to demand unconditional release of those arrested.
The protesting youths said the arrested suspected were being detained over unfounded allegations.
Also, Club and hotel owners in Ondo State Lounge and Club Owners Association (OSLACOA) protested the invasion of their business premises by EFCC operatives.
They said the plan of the raid on their clubs and lounge was to cripple their businesses and ruin nightlife in Akure and other parts of the state.
Speaking at a press conference in Akure, CEO of 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 at about 1:45 am on Saturday morning.
“They took away the cameras, phones, CCTVs, along with about 127 people and some of them were still there. So why they are denying their operations here in Akure. We want the government to check-mate this unacceptable attitude in our community, 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 brutalized customers who came to enjoy their weekend.
Ayo Abass Akinwande said: “At about 1:30 am on Saturday, June 8, 2024, the men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) came into our premises. They 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.
“After gaining access into our premises they rounded everybody up and instructed them to lie down on the floor. Using snooker sticks to beat people to comply, Both male and female customers were dealt with mercilessly. Other members of their team went into the club and rounded everyone up releasing tear gas in the process.
“We were lucky to have adequate first aid materials on the premises that were used by our staff to rescue some of the customers that had various forms of medical emergencies. While they identified some of our staff and allowed them to go, others were still beaten after identification. The CCTV engine room was completely turned upside down and the CCTV engine was taken away.”
“The Ondo state Chairman of the medical association was on the premises and was maltreated even after identifying himself. An international footballer known as Tiger who played for Super Eagles identified himself with video evidence as a footballer, He was arrested and only took the serious intervention of men at the gate before he was released. Yet they took away his white colour G-wagon with the customized number plate “Tiger” to Ibadan and told him to come and collect it in Ibadan.
“This vehicle is still with them as we speak. Lots of phones were confiscated from people and they asked the owners to come and collect them at Ibadan 3 Laptops belonging to our Dis were taken from the DJs even with the DJ stickers on the laptops. A lot of damages were done to our premises and a huge loss was recorded during the period of the raid.
“We wish to make very clear that no one reserved our premises for any kind of party as we are just a business entity carrying out the business we duly registered with the government of Nigeria to do. All over the world people set aside weekends to unwind and this is exactly what was happening in our business premises.
“Finally, we wish to apologize to all our customers who witnessed this unfortunate incident and promise to lawfully engage all relevant authorities to prevent such incidents from reoccurring. This incident will not deter us from serving you better.”
Placards carried by the protected 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.”
They protested to the Governor’s office in Alagbaka.
A spokesman for the protesters, Oluwaseun Ogunmola, said fun seekers thought the EFCC operatives were armed robbers.
He said: “In Nigeria now, youths cannot use phones, laptops, or drive cars because EFCC sees them as fraudsters.
Our ladies, who 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.”
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hon. Tayo Oluwatuyi, said efforts were on to secure the release of those arrested.
Oluwatuyi, however, appealed to the protesters not to fight or cause inconveniences for anybody, promising to get in touch with the EFCC office in Ibadan to secure the release of those arrested.
A statement by the Ondo police spokesman, FunmilayoOdunlami-Omisanya, said necessary steps were being taken to ensure that all concerns were addressed without prejudice.
According to her, “The Command is inundated with complaints about the recent sting operations carried out by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Akure, the Ondo State capital, and the controversies generated.
“The Police, on receipt of the information on the sting operations at about 03:30hrs of 09/06/2024, made contact with relevant stakeholders to ensure there was no breakdown of law and order in the state.
“Thus, the Command calls for peace to allow relevant authorities to look into the matter to address the complaints and concerns of aggrieved residents.
“We appeal to the good people of Ondo state, especially the youths who claimed to have been adversely affected by the sting operation, to act with restraint and comport themselves within the ambits of the laws of the land.
“While urging victims and their sympathizers to calm their frayed nerves and follow laid down procedures in channelling their complaints to appropriate authorities for possible redress and not embark on a self-help mission that can lead to a breakdown of law and order in the State.”
The Akure Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has described the EFCC raid on nightclubs as unlawful, unprofessional and barbaric.
It called for a probe into the action of the EFCC.
Akure branch Chairman of NBA, Olabanjo Ayenakin, in a letter addressed to the Chairman of EFCC, described the mode of operation of the officers as highly indecent and a flagrant violation of the fundamental rights of the people involved.
He called for adequate compensation for the victims.
The Akure NBA said all officers involved in the raid should be investigated and if found culpable, should be dismissed.
“A strong warning should be sent to officers of your Commission in Ibadan to desist from such unprofessional act.
“The issue of theft of several numbers of mobile handsets, necklaces, wristwatches and use of sticks to beat people who didn’t resist arrest should be investigated.
“We are looking forward to seeing you do the needful: we will not hesitate to ventilate the grievances of these affected persons through all legitimate means available under the law, and this we shall do without further recourse to you”.
Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who met with nightclub owners over the incident last, urged them to compile a record of all their facilities destroyed during the raids.
The Ondo governor stated that the EFCC has the mandate to carry out the arrest of suspects adding that it must have acted on credible intelligence to carry out the raids.
He said innocent persons affected by the operation should seek redress while those who have cases to answer should be allowed to defend themselves.
Aiyedatiwa promised to intervene wherever necessary.
