Following the raid of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the weekend, The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa on Sunday met with Nightclubs and Hotel owners in Akure
Clubs and hotels Owners
affected by the raid narrated how their facilities were vandalized by the officers of the anti-graft body when they arrested some suspected internet fraudsters in the early hours of Saturday in Akure.
The EFCC said its operatives acted on intelligence reports, stormed the outlets to effect the arrest of 127 people allegedly holding ‘Yahoo Parties’ and those who had been on the radar of the Commission.
In a meeting held with the club owners at the Government House, Governor Aiyedatiwa sympathized with them on the damages done to their facilities and loss of revenue as he urged them to compile a record of all their facilities destroyed during the raids so they can use it to present their genuine cases to the necessary authorities.
While admitting that there can’t be smoke without fire, the Governor said the EFCC has the mandate to carry out the arrest of suspects and must have acted on credible intelligence to carry out the raids.
He however, said innocent people affected by the operation should seek redress while those who have cases to answer should be allowed to defend themselves. He added that he has been in communication with top security agencies to get credible reports on the incident, the Governor promised to intervene wherever necessary.
The club owners thanked the Governor for the timely meeting while stating that they were not part of those planning to hold a protest over the incident.
The meeting was attended by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Saka Yusuf Ogunleye, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Pastor Segun Ayerin and a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Adefisoye (Small Alhaji), who is also a nightclub owner.