EFCC raid – Ondo Assembly condemns invasion, calls for proper investigation
Ondo State House of Assembly has condemned the activities carried out by officials of the Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on night clubs in Akure, on Friday.
The House, at a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, on Tuesday frowned at the process of the EFCC.
The majority leader of the House, Hon. Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi while moving a motion for debate on the floor of the house stated that their mode of carrying out their duty was not satisfying.
According to him, the House as an arm of government and the representative of the people would will never obstruct the activists of the EFCC but the normal process must adopted in discharging their duties.
He urged the the Chairman of the commission to ensure that proper training is being arranged for their officials and proper things must be done at the appropriate time.
Ogunmolasuyi stressed that the commission must intervene and ensure to carry out proper investigation on the 127 people arrested, prosecute those who violate the law and release those who are clean.
He appreciated Governor Aiyedatiwa for his prompt action and intervention, assuring the youths that proper investigation will be carried out. He also appreciated their peaceful protest and should not take law into their own hands.
He encouraged them to involved in activities that will add values to their lives, the state and the country.
The Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Olawumi Fayemi-Obayelu, representing Ilaje constituency 2, also frowned at how ladies were sexually harassed, stressing that some were pulled by hair, beaten and spanked, adding that such action must be addressed.
Other members also voiced that the EFCC’s mode of operation on the night clubs must to be verified, urging those who are oppressed to go to court to seek redress. “The EFCC must carry out proper investigation so that the innocent will not be prosecuted.
The Speaker stated that the action of the EFCC has attracted widespread different reactions from differs section across the nation, Culminating into a peaceful protest in Akure yesterday, noting that the House remain committed to ensuring all actions and reactions are guided strictly by the law.
“While we recognize and assert the mandate of the EFCC in combating all forms of financial crimes and fraudulent acts, we believe this can be done without allegedly resulting to trampling on civil rights or inflicting physical injury on people. The alleged destruction of business entities also falls below expected to procedures of engagement of the EFCC.
“We hereby call on the EFCC to ensure that only those who are found guilty of alleged crimes among the reported 127 people arrested, should be duly prosecuted in the court of law, while those who are innocent should immediately released. We also call on youth across Ondo State to shun involvement in fraudulent acts like online scams a.k.a Yahoo Yahoo. This online scams wreck financial and emotional distress on victims, and disrupt livelihoods”.
The Speaker called on the youths to refrain from embracing fraudulent act as a way of life as it is totally unacceptable. “We encourage the EFCC to add more vigour in reducing the menace but to go about it in a professional manner”.
He acknowledged the efforts of Ondo State government under the leadership of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, who has personally met the owners of nightlife businesses in the State capital and promised to intervene in the issue and also sympathised with the night club owners and all innocent people who sustained injuries or experienced discomfort during the EFCC raid.
In conclusion, he appealed to the youths to be calm, adding that peaceful protests are constitutional rights but since the State government has waded into the matter with a promise to intervene, they should art further protests and all forms of demonstrations. “As duly elected representatives of the people, we also establish communication with the relevant agencies to ensure that justice is done on the issue”.
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