•Operatives allegedly cart away cars, others
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday stormed the Lagos homes of former Minister Musiliu Obanikoro and carted away cars and other valuables.
The two homes raided were the former minister’s private residence at Park View Estate as well as the house near Banana Island, where his two sons – Jide and Gbolahan – live with the families.
It was learnt that the officials, who allegedly stormed the two houses in the afternoon, were said to have been there till about 6pm.
According to Obanikoro’s media aide, Jonathan Eze, the EFFC officials took vehicles, wristwatches and other effects of the former minister and his sons, who are all in the United States (U.S.).
Eze claimed that they harassed innocent kids and intimidated the occupants of the properties, adding that the commission has never invited Obanikoro for questioning.
The spokesman said: “Officials of the EFCC,on Tuesday, in their characteristic Gestapo like manner, invaded Senator Obanikoro’s houses in Ikoyi with unnecessary intimidation and harassment of occupants, who are majorly innocent kids, teenagers, his wife and daughter in-laws, not without carting away cars, wristwatches and other valuables.
“This is against the backdrop of the fact that the anti-graft agency has never invited him nor his sons for questioning beyond the tirades and allegations they have been propagating, using the media spaces.
“We are using this medium to draw attention of all Nigerians to yet another infringement on the fundamental and inalienable rights of the Obanikoro family.”
He added: “To our chagrin, the vehicles driven away were cars and trucks bought since 2006 and thereabouts when Senator Obanikoro served as an Ambassador in 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 dependants and violating their privacies without recourse to the rule of law.
“Senator Obanikoro has consulted with his lawyers and are prepared to meet them in court to stop this intrusions and persecution,” Eze stated.
Confirming the raid, EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwajeren said it was in line with ongoing investigations.
“I can tell you that no one was harassed in the course of the search and that it is part of ongoing investigation on the man. Our operatives, who went there, conducted their affairs in best practices and took some vehicles away. I cannot immediately give inventory on the things that were carted away, but that will be made known in due time.
“I do not think we need any permission from the man to do our job. Full details will be disclosed when we get there,” he said.
END
Did they follow due process when they ganged up and plundered our collective wealth? The same people who are now calling for due process clapped and eulogised them while the thievery lasted. Why is he hiding in a foreign country if he has nothing to hide. The wicked runs when no one purues. He should come come back home and defend the fundamental right his stooges and hangers-on are preaching. The Ekiti saga of 2014 governorship election is still fresh in the memories of those who are still licking their wounds as a result of the evil perpetrated him and his gang then.