Edo Hoteliers Kick Against Facilities Invasion, Arrest Of 93 Persons By EFCC

By Idahosa Musa

Edo State Chapter of the Business and Hoteliers Stakeholders Forum (BHSF) has kicked against the invasion and arrested of 93 suspected internet fraudsters celebrating birthday in their facilities by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission in Benin City, Edo State.

Addressing journalists in Benin, the group Chairman, Mr. Omogiade Edokpolor, said they have lost billions of Naira due to the inordinate arrest of suspected internet fraudsters in their facilities

He said that the association is not against the EFCC doing their jobs, but they should notify the facilities management they are raiding for a smooth operation.

“93 suspected internet fraudsters were on Sunday arrested during clampdown by the agency in our various hotels and have neither been released nor were they allowed to gain access to their lawyers” he alleged.

He alleged that the way and manner the agency raided their facilities without a search warrant created fears and panic into the minds of other guests who have come to use their facilities.

“Constant raiding of our facilities have forced the youths who hitherto patronized us to leave the state for neighbouring states, while other guests are now afraid to patronize us.

“EFCC should release the 93 Edo youths that have been detained in an unknown destination illegally” he said.

He called on the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukayode to transfer the current EFCC zonal Commander in Edo state, who has been part of what he describes as “illegal crackdown of our youth without any legal reason.”

Responding, EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewole, who confirmed the arrest, dismissed the allegations, saying no arrest made by the commission’s operatives that is not supported by warrant.

“The operatives’ identity card has a warrant that is embossed in them already.

“So, when you see an EFCC operatives making an arrest, he is lawfully allowed because his identity card is a warrant”

The hoteliers are acting in ignorance, Dele said “they don’t know the authority and the legitimacy of the operation that are carried out, EFCC identity card is a warrant to make arrest”.

He said internet fraud in Edo State is pervasive and that because of prevalent and pervasiveness of the crime in the state, “that is why you see us making more arrest in Edo than any other locations”.

Continuing, Owoyele, said the suspects have not been released because the commission has secured remand order of the court to keep them beyond 48 hours.

“We have secured a remand order authorizing us to lawfully hold them beyond 48 hours.We have a remand order to hold them as long as our investigation allow us”, he said