Posted on: 05:07 Wed, 15 Jun 2016



Operatives of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) today stormed the Lagos
residences of former Minister of
State for Defence, Musiliu
Obanikoro, carting away cars and
other valuables.

The two homes raided were the
former minister’s private residence
at Park View Estate and the house
near Banana Island where his two
sons, Jide and Gbolahan live with
their families.

The Nation learnt that the officials,
who stormed the two houses in the
afternoon, were there till about
6:00pm.

According to Obanikoro’s media
aide, Jonathan Eze, the officials
took vehicles, wristwatches and
other personal effects of the former
minister and his sons, who are all
in the United States.

Eze claimed that they harassed
innocent kids and intimidated the
occupants of the properties, adding
that the commission has never
invited Obanikoro for questioning.

“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,” Eze
stated.