The Ogun State Entertainment Stakeholders Forum has decried last Sunday’s raid by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a nighttime event at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, claiming the incident caused an economic loss of between ₦1.5 billion and ₦2 billion.
The group has petitioned the Ogun State House of Assembly, urging lawmakers to wade into what they described as the anti-graft agency’s “disruptive and unlawful operational activities.”
Naija News reports that EFCC operatives carried out a sting operation in the early hours of Sunday, arresting 93 suspected internet fraudsters and seizing 18 vehicles and mobile devices.
The OOPL management condemned the operation, describing it as an invasion and demanded an apology from the commission.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abeokuta, forum representatives, Mrs Amu Omobolanle, Ikokoh Temitope, Adewusi Emmanuel, Adejumo Babatunde, and Adediran Taiwo (Hephta), said while they support the EFCC’s mandate, recent raids on nightlife venues have violated the Constitution and the commission’s operational guidelines.
Hephta, a comedian and event planner, said, “We are talking about the valuables lost during the raid. A number of people who tried to escape lost their phones. Phones now cost between ₦1m and ₦2m.
“A lot of cars were damaged; we saw them in deplorable conditions the next day. Adding that together, we are already talking about ₦700m. Vendors and drink sellers lost products and couldn’t recover money from customers. We are talking in the tune of ₦1.5bn to ₦2bn in losses.”
He added that some artistes had been paid to perform but could not do so, while partygoers had also booked hotels.
Earlier, Adewusi Emmanuel, popularly known as Coy Birijo, appealed to the Assembly to engage the EFCC leadership on operational reforms aimed at preventing unlawful detentions and ensuring dialogue between security agencies and entertainment stakeholders.
Mrs Amu Omobolanle stressed that their call was not to stop EFCC operations but to protect legitimate businesses from disruption.
She stated, “We are not saying EFCC should not do their job, but they should do it in a way that will not affect event planners. Entertainment has reduced unemployment, robbery, and other crimes. DJs, hype men, MCs, and dancers can no longer come out because people are scared. Shows are being abandoned due to fear of EFCC.”
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