Update: Ondo Lawmaker, Makinde Condemns EFCC’s Raid On Akure Nightclubs

The lawmaker representing Ondo East/West Federal constituency at the House of Representatives, and chairman, House Committee on human rights, Hon. Abiola Makinde, has condemned raids on some nightclubs and lounges in Akure, the Ondo State capital, in the early hours of Saturday.

In a statement, Makinde’s media aide, Moshood Alli, described the raid as invasion of privacy of innocent citizens of Nigeria.

According to him, after contacting the leader of the team who raided the club, he was told that they have their orders and intelligence report before the exercise.  

The lawmaker urged people in the area to remain calm while the matter was investigated and resolved.

 “Absolutely, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as Nigeria’s premier anti-graft agency, has a critical role in combating financial crimes.

“However, it is imperative that in the pursuit of justice, the EFCC adheres strictly to the principles of human rights.

“Reports of raids leading to violations of personal dignity and privacy, such as the incident involving a former Big Brother Naija housemate, highlights the need for the EFCC to conduct operations with respect for the law and human decency.

“Please note that the agency’s mandate to investigate financial crimes does not exempt it from the obligation to respect human rights, which includes ensuring that raids are conducted legally, with proper warrants, and without undue harm to individuals.

“The concerns raised by various incidents underscore the importance of accountability and the adherence to human rights standards to maintain public trust in law enforcement agencies.

“I’ll activate the State Director of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr Sunday Oyewole, to look into the matter. Any violations will be addressed between the two federal agencies,” he said.