Members of the Ogun State Entertainment Stakeholders Forum have decried last Sunday’s raid on a nighttime gathering at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), saying about N2 billion economic loss was recorded in the incident.

This is even as the forum petitioned the House of Assembly, asking the legislature to urgently intervene in what they described as disruptive and unlawful operational activities of the anti-graft agency.

Daily Trust reports that the EFCC operatives had carried out a sting operation in the wee hours of Sunday at OOPL, where they arrested 93 suspected internet fraudsters and seized 18 vehicles and mobile devices.

The OOPL management condemned the raid which it labelled invasion and demanded an apology from the EFCC.

Addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, the entertainment stakeholders in the state said while it fully supports the EFCC statutory mandate to combat financial crimes, recent raids on nightlife establishments have been conducted in a manner that “violates both the Constitution and the Commission’s own operational guidelines.”

Those who spoke on behalf of the forum at the media briefing included Mrs Amu Omobolanle, Ikokoh Temitope, Adewusi Emmanuel, Adejumo Babatunde, and Adediran Taiwo, (Hephta).

Responding to questions on the loss recorded during the incident, Adediran Taiwo, (Hephta) disclosed that between N1.5bn to N2bn economic loss was recorded.

He said cars were damaged and phones lost, while the majority of the vendors and drink sellers not only lost their products in the violent raid, but also they were unable to recover money from the participants who had already patronised them.

Hephta, a comedian and event planner, said organisers of the party equally paid some artistes who were unable to perform due to the raid.

According to him, the wide range of the economic loss underscores the need for the operatives to cautiously carry out its operations in such a way that legitimate business would not be affected.

He said, “We are talking about the valuables lost during the raid, a number of people who tried to escape the raid lost their phones. We know how much phones cost these days. These days, phones cost about a million or N2 million.

“A lot of cars were damaged, we met cars in deplorable conditions inside OOPL the second day. You know the worth of cars now. Adding that together, we are already talking in the tune of N700m.

“For vendors, drink, food sellers; you know during night parties , they sell and when getting to the end of the party, they go back to request for their money. We know how much a bottle of Hennessy costs and other brands. Many of them sold drinks without collecting back the money.

“We are talking in tune of N1.5bn to N2bn of the loss that can never be gotten back. The party organisers have paid some artistes to come and perform, but they were unable to perform. Party goers have booked hotels. A lot of money has been spent on that party.”

Earlier in his address, Adewusi Emmanuel popularly known as (Coy Birijo) appealed to the state House of Assembly to engage EFCC leadership on operational reforms.

He also asked the legislature to interface with the agency to prevent unlawful detentions, and facilitate dialogue between security agencies and entertainment stakeholders to protect livelihoods and public trust.

A female entertainer, Mrs. Amu Omobolanle, said, “We are not saying EFCC should not do their job, but they should do it in a way that will not affect event planners. Not during a show when they will scare people away.

“Entertainment has helped a lot, it has reduced unemployment, robbery and other crimes. We have DJs, hype men, MCs, dancers who can no longer come out because people are scared. They can’t hold shows because people won’t attend due to fear of EFCC.” (Daily Trust)