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It’s not a crime to own property, jewellery – Diezani
The EFCC officials were alleged to have carted away cars found in Obanikoro’s house.
They also allegedly took away wristwatches. Sources claimed that the raid might be connected to roles Obanikoro played in the 2015 elections, but EFCC’s Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said the reasons for the raid of the politician’s home would be made known in due course.
The raid came days after several ministers that served in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan were arrested by the anti-graft agency, in connection with campaign funds.
Earlier this year, it was alleged that EFCC received evidence linking Obanikoro with the infamous Ekiti election scandal of June 2014 and the related plot to rig the Osun State gubernatorial election. “I can, however, confirm that our men carried out an operation in Obanikoro’s residence.
The raid was just part of an ongoing investigation involving Obanikoro and his two sons,” Uwujaren said. Asked why Obanikoro is being investigated, he added: “I can’t go into that now.
The investigation has been going on for a long time. I don’t know and can’t say whether it was before or after elections, but it had been on for some time.” The EFCC spokesman also refused to say whether the raid was connected to money laundering. “At the right time, you will get to know the details.” Reacting to the incident, Obanikoro alleged that EFCC operatives stormed his residence in a “Gestapo like manner.”
In a statement made available to New Telegraph, Obanikoro’s media aide, Jonathan Eze, alleged that the EFCC officials “for no just cause, harassed occupants of the building, who were majorly kids, teenagers, wife and daughter-inlaws of Obanikoro”.
According to him, they also took away cars, wristwatches and other valuables from the house. He said: “The anti-graft agency has never invited him or 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.”
Eze described the raid as plot by the administration to persecute its perceived opponents. He added: “To our chagrin, the vehicles driven away were cars and trucks bought since 2006 and thereabout when Senator Obanikoro served as an ambassador in Ghana, among others, which obviously have 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.” Eze said that Obanikoro had already consulted with his lawyers and was prepared to meet the EFCC in court to stop the intrusion and persecution.
There were reports that the EFCC was investigating two of Obanikoro’s sons: Babajide and Gbolahan. They were alleged to be directors and signatories to a Diamond Bank account, belonging to Sylvan McNamara Limited. The former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), was alleged to have paid about N4.75 billion into the account.
The transfer occurred between June and December 2014. The payments were allegedly made without any contract. The periods of transfer coincided with the preparation for and the conduct of the Ekiti State gubernatorial election, which ushered in the current administration of Governor Ayodele Fayose.https://newtelegraphonline.com/efcc-raids-obanikoros-residence-impounds-vehicles/
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