Entertainers in Ogun State have declared that they lost N2 billion during last Sunday’s raid on the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Under the Ogun State Entertainers Stakeholders Forum, the artists said they were at a nighttime gathering at the library when the EFCC operatives struck.
The forum has also petitioned the House of Assembly, demanding urgent intervention in what they described as disruptive and unlawful operational activities of the anti-graft agency.
The EFCC operatives in the wee hours of Sunday stormed the OOPL and arrested 93 suspected internet fraudsters and seized 18 vehicles and mobile devices.
The OOPL management condemned the raid and accused it of invasion and demanded an apology from the EFCC.
The entertainers said they fully support the EFCC to fight financial crimes, but said the raids on nightlife establishments “violates both the Constitution and the Commission’s own operational guidelines.”
Mrs. Amu Omobolanle, Ikokoh Temitope, Adewusi Emmanuel, Adejumo Babatunde, and Adediran Taiwo, (Hephta) who addressed newsmen in Abeokuta said they lost between N1.5bn to N2bn.
Adediran Taiwo, (Hephta) said cars were destroyed and phones stolen, while the majority of the vendors and drink sellers not only lost their products in the violent raid, but also they were unable to recover money from the participants who had already patronised them.
Hephta, a comedian and event planner, said organisers of the party equally paid some artistes who were unable to perform due to the raid.
“We are talking about the valuables lost during the raid, a number of people who tried to escape the raid lost their phones. We know how much phones cost these days. These days, phones cost about a million or N2 million.
“A lot of cars were damaged, we met cars in deplorable conditions inside OOPL the second day. You know the worth of cars now. Adding that together, we are already talking in the tune of N700m.
“For vendors, drink, food sellers; you know during night parties , they sell and when getting to the end of the party, they go back to request for their money. We know how much a bottle of Hennessy costs and other brands. Many of them sold drinks without collecting back the money.
“We are talking in tune of N1.5bn to N2bn of the loss that can never be gotten back. The party organisers have paid some artistes to come and perform, but they were unable to perform. Party goers have booked hotels. A lot of money has been spent on that party.”
Also speaking, Adewusi Emmanuel popularly known as (Coy Birijo) appealed to the state House of Assembly to engage EFCC leadership on operational reforms as well as ensure that there was no unlawful detentions, and facilitate dialogue between security agencies and entertainment stakeholders to protect livelihoods and public trust.
