A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Lere Olayinka, has called for a total reform of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to meet global best practices in corrupting fight, saying the anti-graft agency was operating like “a gathering of Motor Park touts”.

Olayinka said this in reaction to the raid of the Regional Hotel in Lagos State at about 4 a.m. by EFCC operatives during which female staff and guests in the hotel were allegedly assaulted.

Olayinka, in a statement on Thursday, June 27, 2024, also called for the immediate sack of the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.

The former spokesperson for the ex-governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, described the operation of the anti-graft agency at the hotel as shameful, saying: “The way EFCC is going, one day, and very soon, its operatives will be mounting roadblocks to stop commercial vehicles and arrest their passengers.”

“It is either the EFCC Chairman is incompetent or he is complicit. Olukoyede who announced to Nigerians on November 1, 2023, that he had banned sting operations at night should be asked why operatives of the agency are still carrying out sting operations at night and assaulting innocent Nigerians in the process.

“Or is 4 a.m. that EFCC operatives invaded Regional Hotel, Isashi, Ojo, Lagos State yesterday, in the afternoon? 1 a.m. that armed EFCC operatives invaded clubs and lounges in Akure, Ondo State, a few weeks ago was in the afternoon?

EFCC chair orders officers’ arrest for assaulting Lagos hotel official

“It is becoming obvious that those in charge of the EFCC outside Abuja do not listen to Olukoyede and it can only be a function of incompetence on his side. He should just be shown the exit doors before we witness another #EndSARS protest.”

While describing the arrest of the two operatives seen in the CCTV footage allegedly assaulting people at the hotel in Lagos State as an afterthought, Olayinka said: “If they were able to destroy CCTV cameras as they did in Akure, they would have defended their barbarism just as they defended the one they did in Akure.

“It is even so shameful that the chairman is a lawyer and pastor.”

Speaking on the need for EFCC to stop being emotional and sentimental in carrying out its functions, the PDP chieftain said not all cases should be taken to court.

The former governor’s aide added: “Imagine EFCC prosecuting one case for ten years and at the end of the day, the case is dismissed. What will happen to the millions of naira spent by the EFCC to pay lawyers? Who will bear the cost incurred by the defendants? Isn’t it punishment for defendants to pay lawyers and go in and out of court for ten years?

“The question is, must EFCC charge everyone to court, even when it is clear that the charges can’t be sustained? Or is EFCC just doing this to find food for lawyers and its officials?

“No one fights corruption by invading bars, clubs, lounges and student hostels at odd hours and standing on the roads to carry out random arrests. It is crude and primitive to arrest people randomly, clamp them in detention before finding out their culpability.”

The Star