Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, invaded the Ikoyi, Lagos home of Nigeria’s former minister of state for defence and People’s Democratic Party chieftain, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.
The “fierce-looking” operatives of the EFCC went on rampage in former minister’s house, intimidating and harassing occupants of the house. A eye-witness says those present in the house were mainly children, teenagers, Obanikoro’s wife, and his daughters-in-law.
The EFCC operatives carted away cars, wristwatches and other valuables, according to an eye-witness who spoke with The Trent on Tuesday night.
A statement issued on behalf of Obanikoro, who is a former Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, described the invasion as characteristic of the EFCC’s gestapo-like manner of operations.
According to the statement made available to The Trent, “This is against the background of the fact that the anti-graft agency has never invited Senator Obanikoro or any member of his family for questioning beyond the tirades and allegations they have been propagating using the media spaces.”
Obanikoro said it has therefore become imperative to draw the attention of all Nigerians to yet another infringement on his fundamental and inalienable rights.
“Lovers of freedom should not wait until our democracy is put at irreversible damage. The list of human rights violations and political persecution has reached an alarming rate.
“We see this as an affront and a further show of shame and ignominy of this present administration hell bent in politically persecuting its perceived opponents in other to stop them and rubbish their hard earned reputation of untainted public services.
“To our chagrin, the vehicles driven away by the EFCC operatives were cars and trucks bought since 2006 and thereabout when Senator Obanikoro served as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana among others which obviously has no bearing with the purported investigation they are supposedly carrying out.
“We condemn in strong terms the brigandage and the idea of inflicting trauma on innocent dependents and violating their privacies without recourse to the rule of law.
“Senator Obanikoro has consulted with his lawyers and is prepared to meet them in court to stop this unlawful intrusion and persecution,” the statement ended.
