Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday invaded the Lagos homes of former Minister Musiliu Obanikoro and took away cars and other valuables, the Nation reports.
The two homes raided are Obanikoro’s private residence at Park View Estate and his house near Banana Island, where his two sons – Jide and Gbolahan – live with the families. It is gathered that the raid lasted several houses.
Obanikoro’s media aide, Jonathan Eze said the EFFC officials left with vehicles, wristwatches and other effects of the former minister and his sons, who are all apparently in exile in the United States.
Eze criticized the modus operandi of the operatives, claiming that they harassed innocent kids and intimidated the occupants of the properties despite the fact that the commission never once invited Obanikoro for questioning.
He 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.”
Eze 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.”
EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwajeren confirmed the raid and 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.”
The EFCC also said it traced N4.75bn to a company, Sylvan McNamara Limited, in which Obanikoro’s sons have interest.
The money was allegedly paid in tranches into the company’s account number 0026223714 with Diamond Bank from the Office of the National Security Adviser account with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
According to the anti-graft, all transfers were done between June and December 2014, which coincided with the period of preparation and the conduct of the Ekiti State governorship election, which Governor Ayodele Fayose won.
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