By Osiregbeme Abdullah Egbakhime
Business and Hoteliers Stakeholders Forum (BHSF), in Edo State said they have lost billions of naira following the raid on their facilities by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Edo State command.
Speaking in Benin, the Chairman of the association, Mr. Omogiade Edokpolor, said they are not against the EFCC doing their jobs, but concerned about the way and manner the operatives are raiding their facilities.
According to him, the commission is operating without a search warrant for suspected internet fraudsters, noting that this creates fears and panic in the minds of other guests who have come to use their facilities.
He alleged that 93 suspected internet fraudsters were arrested last Sunday by the commission in various facilities in the state, adding that the affected persons are still in custody without having access to their lawyers.
The raid, he said, had forced the youths who hitherto patronized their facilities to relocate to other neighbouring states.
He said the association has resolved to prevail on EFCC to release the 93 Edo youths that have been detained in an unknown destination.
“That, should there be any sort of arrest that the EFCC has decided to do in any of our businesses in our Edo state, they should come with a legal warrant and carry the management of that facility along on the purpose of their being there.”
He assured that they are ready to partner with EFCC to clamdown down on any suspect provided they have a warrant to arrest.
Reacting to the allegations, the agency spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said that the EFCC carries out its operations within the ambit of the law and has not run contrary to it.
He said before the operatives arrest any suspect the have the search warrant and the evidence.
According to him, the association is not in position to tell the commission how to carry out its operations, wondering why the hoteliers are making case for internet fraudsters.
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