close
Tuesday, November 30, 2021

After denying raid, EFCC parades 60 ‘Yahoo Boys’ arrested at Gbenga Daniel’s Conference Hotel

The EFCC had earlier debunked the rights violation exercise, claiming that it was not aware of the raid.

• November 29, 2021
Bawa, Conference Hotel and Gbenga Daniel
A composite of Conference Hotel, Bawa and Gbenga Daniel used to illustrate the story

Barely a day after denying its officers raided Gbenga Daniel’s Conference Hotel, the EFCC on Monday paraded 60 persons arrested during the rights violation operation.

Admitting that EFCC raided Mr Daniel’s hotel over the weekend, the anti-graft agency spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said those arrested were suspected internet fraudsters.

In a statement, Mr Uwujaren said they were arrested during an award ceremony at the hotel Saturday, alleging that the event was put together to celebrate high-level internet fraudsters.

He said officials of EFCC during the raid recovered exotic cars, electronic devices, laptops and mobile phones from the suspects, who would be charged to court.

Peoples Gazette had reported that armed EFCC agents on Saturday night stripped, robbed and shot repeatedly to traumatise guests at Conference Hotels.

Part of a luxury accommodation chain run by Mr Daniel, a former governor of Ogun state, witnesses had told The Gazette that EFCC officers arrived before midnight on Saturday and operated well into the early hours of Sunday morning.

EFCC operatives forcibly broke into guest rooms unannounced and stripped them of any dignity, Peoples Gazette heard, in a description that matches the agency’s recent descent into conduct bereft of civil liberties considerations.

Scores of guests were said to have been arrested, and many of them accused of being Internet fraudsters even though no outstanding warrants were presented against them.

The EFCC had debunked The Gazette report, claiming that it was not aware of the raid.

Notorious for enforcing its operations without warrants, the anti-graft agency has frequently violated the fundamental right of Nigerians, constantly breaking into homes of unarmed citizens in search of internet fraudsters without a court warrant.

More from Peoples Gazette

Abuja-Kaduna train (Credit: Twitter)

Abuja

Abuja-Kaduna train fare jumps from N2,000 to N15,000 amid online ticketing shutdown

“Train from Kaduna to Abuja is now 15-20k. Online booking is also down,” a Twitter user posted on Tuesday morning.

NYSC Corpers used to illustrate the story.

NationWide

Nigerian graduates must be under oath during, after service: NYSC

“You must allow the oath of NYSC binds on you during the service and after the service year…NYSC puts the nation first,” the NYSC director-general said.

States

Hausa women criticised for dressing like Americans, Europeans

Ms Sani-Daura pointed out that much of Hausa culture would disappear if the habit continued.

Economy

World Bank lauds Kogi’s 2020 audited financial statement

“The financial statements were prepared on IPSAS accrual basis, and the auditor-general of the state has issued an audit certificate with an unqualified (clean) audit opinion.”

Africa

Civil War: Japan tells citizens to leave Ethiopia

“Currently, commercial flights continue to fly. We urge Japanese citizens to leave this country.”

Anambra governor Willie Obiano

Anti-Corruption

EXCLUSIVE: Bank documents expose how Governor Obiano took N4 billion from Anambra treasury on same day

Mr Obiano withdrew the funds from various Fidelity Bank account numbers 5110032568, 5110032599, 5110032551, 5110032544, 5110032582, 8.1301E+11.