The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has said its recent operation in Abeokuta was not aimed at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, as claimed by its management.
The library’s management had on Wednesday accused the EFCC of invading its premises during the arrest of 93 suspected internet fraudsters, demanding N3.5 billion in damages and a public apology. They described the incident as an “invasion of private property” and “a stark and blatant violation of the rights of the people who gathered for the event.”
In a statement on Thursday, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said the arrests happened at a hotel located within the library’s grounds, not inside the library itself.
“Sequel to the arrest of 93 suspected internet fraudsters at a hotel within the precincts of former President Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, the EFCC will, on Friday, August 15, 2025, arraign 23 out of the suspects before Justice D. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos,” Oyewale said.
He explained that intelligence reports showed the suspects were holding a pool party to celebrate alleged fraudulent activities. The party, initially planned for two different venues, was moved to the hotel within the library’s precincts in an attempt to avoid detection.
Oyewale said, “Upon profiling, almost all the suspects arrested have been indicted for alleged offences bordering on impersonation, identity and internet fraud. The planners got wind of the Commission’s intelligence and scampered to the OOPL, expecting a sort of cover from arrest. The former President’s facility was not a target of the EFCC’s operations. The suspects were the target and have confessed their involvement in internet crimes.”
He added that the arraignment of the remaining suspects would follow in batches.
