By Jide Francis
Society Page Editor
A dramatic late-night operation by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sparked a heated row with the management of a facility linked to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The anti-graft agency stormed one of Obasanjo’s hospitality properties, reportedly in Abeokuta, arresting dozens of suspected internet fraudsters during a poolside party.
According to eyewitnesses, the EFCC arrived in the dead of night, surrounding the premises and ordering guests to lie face-down while operatives combed through rooms and the pool area. Phones, laptops, and luxury vehicles were allegedly seized as part of the operation. Videos circulating online show guests in swimwear being escorted out by heavily armed EFCC agents.
The EFCC later confirmed the arrests, stating that the suspects were “caught in the act” during what the agency described as a “Yahoo Boys-style party.” Preliminary investigations, according to the EFCC, link the suspects to various cybercrime activities, including identity theft, romance scams, and money laundering.
However, the management of the hotel — overseen by the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) — has condemned the raid, describing it as “an unlawful invasion” carried out without prior notice or due process. In a strongly worded statement, the OOPL alleged that EFCC operatives broke into rooms, harassed legitimate guests, and disrupted business operations under the guise of a sting operation.
“The actions of the EFCC were not only disruptive but damaging to our reputation,” the statement read. “We will be taking all necessary legal steps to seek redress and ensure accountability for this brazen act.”
The incident has sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians, with some applauding the EFCC’s aggressive stance against cybercrime, while others question the methods and legality of the operation, particularly given the facility’s high-profile ownership.
Legal experts note that if the OOPL proceeds with its threat of litigation, the case could test the boundaries of the EFCC’s operational powers, especially regarding warrantless raids on private businesses.
For now, the suspects remain in custody as investigations continue, while the looming legal battle between one of Nigeria’s most powerful political figures and the country’s foremost anti-corruption agency could become a major flashpoint in the weeks ahead.
