Obanikoro said it has
therefore become imperative to draw the attention of all Nigerians to yet
another infringement on his fundamental and inalienable rights.
Officials of the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, invaded the
Ikoyi, Lagos home of Nigeria’s former minister of state for defence and
People’s Democratic Party chieftain, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.
The “fierce-looking”
operatives of the EFCC went on rampage in former minister’s house, intimidating
and harassing occupants of the house. A eye-witness says those present in the
house were mainly children, teenagers, Obanikoro’s wife, and his
daughters-in-law.
The EFCC operatives carted
away cars, wristwatches and other valuables, according to an eye-witness who
spoke with The Trent on Tuesday night.
A statement issued on
behalf of Obanikoro, who is a former Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana,
described the invasion as characteristic of the EFCC’s gestapo-like manner of
operations.
According to the statement
made available to The Trent, “This is against the background of the fact that
the anti-graft agency has never invited Senator Obanikoro or any member of his
family for questioning beyond the tirades and allegations they have been
propagating using the media spaces.”
“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 stop them
and rubbish their hard earned reputation of untainted public services.
“To our chagrin, the
vehicles driven away by the EFCC operatives were cars and trucks bought since
2006 and thereabout when Senator Obanikoro served as Nigeria’s High
Commissioner to 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 dependents and
violating their privacies without recourse to the rule of law.
“Senator Obanikoro
has consulted with his lawyers and is prepared to meet them in court to stop
this unlawful intrusion and persecution,” the statement ended.The Trent
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