The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday stormed the Ikoyi home of former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, who has been on an extended trip out of the country.
Media aide to the embattled politician, Jonathan Eze, alleged in a statement that the EFCC officials harassed occupants of the building, among who was Obanikoro’s wife.
The statement read: “Today, officials of EFCC invaded Senator Obanikoro houses in Ikoyi with unnecessary force and harassment of occupants who are mainly kids, teenagers, his wife and daughters in-law, carting away cars, wristwatches and other valuables.
“This is against the backdrop of the fact that the anti-graft agency has never invited him or his son for questioning beyond the allegations they have been propagating in the media.
“We are using this medium to draw the attention of all Nigerians to yet another infringement on the fundamental and inalienable rights of the Obanikoro family.
“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 a further show of shame of this present administration which is hell bent on politically persecuting its perceived opponents in other to stoop them and rubbish their hard earned reputation of untainted public services.
“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.
“Senator Obanikoro has consulted with his Lawyers and is prepared to meet them in court to stop this intrusions and persecution,”
Spokesperson for the Commission, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the raid as “part of the investigation involving Obanikoro and his two sons.”
H, however, said nobody was harassed.
Anybody familiar with the EFCC knows that we don’t harass people. Our men went there to do their lawful duty,” Uwujaren said.
