EFCC raids Musiliu Obanikoro’s homes in Ikoyi, Lagos (photos)

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) today Tuesday June 14th
stormed the Lagos residences of former Minister
of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, taking
away cars and other valuables.
The two homes raided were the former minister’s
private residence at Park View Estate in Ikoyi
and the house near Banana Island, also in Ikoyi
where his two sons, Jide and Gbolahan live with
their families.
The antigraft agents took along with them
vehicles, wristwatches and other personal effects
of the former minister and his sons, who are all
in the United States.
Obanikoro’s media aide, Jonathan Eze, released
a statement detailing what transpired. The
statement reads
“Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) 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. 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 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 had 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,”.
Spokesman for the EFCC, Wilson Uwajeren,
confirmed the raid of Obanikoro's home. He said
"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.