Obasanjo Library gives EFCC, Police 7-Day ultimatum, demands N3.5bn damages over raid
By: Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.
The management of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, has given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Police Force seven days to publicly apologise and pay ₦3.5 billion in damages over what it described as a “reckless, malicious, and unconstitutional” invasion of its premises.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday at the OOPL Boardroom, Managing Director Vitalis Ortese said the August 9–10 raid by EFCC operatives left over 100 patrons brutalised, vehicles seized, and businesses disrupted, with tourism and investment activities at the complex severely affected.
EFCC had claimed its early-morning operation, which lasted from 1 a.m. to 3 p.m. on August 10, led to the arrest of 96 suspected internet fraudsters.
Ortese alleged the EFCC and police jointly carried out “deliberate and malicious damage” to the facility, saying the attack was targeted not only at the institution but also at its founder, former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“The acts were aggravated, oppressive, and actuated by malice… calculated to damage our legitimate business interests and reputation locally and internationally,” he said, adding that 12 expended AK-47 pellets and a beret allegedly belonging to the operatives were recovered at the scene.
According to him, some victims remain hospitalised, while others are ready to testify in court. He claimed operatives attempted to destroy evidence by seizing and smashing patrons’ phones.
OOPL is demanding ₦1 billion compensation for victims over injuries and seized property, and ₦2.5 billion for reputational and business damage. It also wants a public investigation into the incident and formal apologies from EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede and the Inspector General of Police.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Dr. Olumide Ayeni, who corroborated Ortese’s account, said ballistic experts would assess the recovered pellets to determine the number of shots fired.
Ortese warned that failure to meet the demands within seven days from Wednesday would leave the institution with no choice but to seek legal redress.
The OOPL management said the raid endangered families, tourists, entrepreneurs, and law-abiding youths in the complex, warning it had also damaged public trust in Ogun State’s tourism sector. It called on Governor Dapo Abiodun, the National Security Adviser, and other authorities to prevent a recurrence of such “institutional lawlessness.”
