Ondo State Governor, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, on Sunday met with owners of night clubs in Akure following the raid of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the weekend.
Owners of night clubs and hotels affected by the raid gave the accounts of how their facilities were vandalised by the officers of the anti-graft body when they arrested some suspected internet fraudsters in the early hours of Saturday in Akure.
The EFCC had stated that its operatives, acting on intelligence reports, stormed the outlets to effect the arrest of 127 people allegedly holding ‘Yahoo Parties’ and those who had been on the radar of the Commission.
Addressing the club owners at the meeting held at the Government House, Governor Aiyedatiwa sympathised with them on the damages done to their facilities and loss of revenue.
The Governor urged them to compile a record of all their facilities destroyed during the raids so they can use it to present their genuine cases to the necessary authorities.
Saying that there can’t be smoke without fire, the Governor said the EFCC has the mandate to carry out arrest of suspects and must have acted on credible intelligence to carry out the raids.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, however, said innocent people affected by the operation should seek redress while those who have cases to answer should be allowed to defend themselves.
Adding that he has been in communication with top security agencies to get credible reports on the incident, the Governor promised to intervene wherever necessary.
The club owners, who thanked the Governor for the timely meeting, said they were not part of those planning to hold a protest over the incident.
The meeting was attended by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Saka Yusuf Ogunleye, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Pastor Segun Ayerin and a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Adefisoye (Small Alhaji), who is also a night club owner.
Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan,
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State.
June 9, 2024.