…Says It Recovers AK-47 Pellets, Beret After EFCC Invasion
The management of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Police Force to publicly apologise and pay a total of ₦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, the Managing Director, Vitalis Ortese, said the August 9–10 raid by EFCC operatives left more than 100 patrons brutalised, vehicles seized, and businesses disrupted, with tourism and investment activities in the complex severely affected.
EFCC had invaded the premise of the OOPL early Sunday morning, claiming they have arrested 96 suspected internet fraudsters .
Ortese alleged that the EFCC and police jointly orchestrated “deliberate and malicious damage” to the facility, insisting the attack was aimed 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.
The OOPL boss disclosed that security personnel recovered 12 expended AK-47 pellets and a beret allegedly belonging to the operatives during the incident, adding that some victims are still hospitalised, while others are ready to testify in court.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Olumide Ayeni, who corroborated Ortese’s statement, said ballistic experts would determine the number of guns fired, based on the recovered pellets.
He also accused the operatives of attempting to destroy evidence by seizing and smashing patrons’ phones.
The OOPL is demanding ₦1 billion compensation for victims over injuries and seized property, and ₦2.5 billion for reputational and business damage.
It also called for a comprehensive public investigation into the incident and a formal apology from EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede and the Inspector General of Police.
According to Ortese, failure to meet these demands within seven days—counting from Wednesday—would leave the institution with no option but to seek legal redress.
The EFCC had claimed its operation, which ran between 1 a.m. and 3 p.m. on August 10, resulted in the arrest of 96 suspected internet fraudsters.
However, OOPL maintains that the raid endangered the lives of families, tourists, entrepreneurs, and youths lawfully engaged in activities within the complex.
The management warned that the incident had damaged public trust in Ogun State’s tourism sector and urged Governor Dapo Abiodun, the National Security Adviser, and other authorities to prevent a recurrence of what it called “institutional lawlessness.”
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