Former Minister of State for Defence, Misiliu Obanikoro, has reacted to the invasion of his residence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Jonathan Eze, the former Minister claimed operatives of the EFCC not only stormed his house, but assaulted innocent kids, took away his cars, wrist watches and other valuables.
The statement said the EFCC were at Obanikoro’s house in “their characteristic Gestapo like manner” and allegedly intimidated and harassed “occupants who are majorly innocent kids, teenagers, his wife and daughter in-laws not without carting away cars, wristwatches and other valuables.”
It said “this is against the backdrop of the fact that the anti graft agency has never invited him or his son’s for questioning beyond the tirades and allegations they have been propagating using the media spaces.
“We are using this medium to draw attention of all Nigerians to yet another infringement on the fundamental and inalienable rights of the Obanikoro family.
“Lovers of freedom should not wait until our democracy is put at irreversible damage. The list of human rights violations and political persecution has reached an alarming rate.
“We see this as an affront and a further show of shame and ignominy of this present administration hell bent in politically persecuting its perceived opponents in other to stoop them and rubbish their hard earned reputation of untainted public services.
“To our chagrin, the vehicles driven away were cars and trucks bought since 2006 and thereabouts when Senator Obanikoro served as an Ambassador in Ghana among others which obviously has no bearing with the purported investigation they are supposedly carrying out.
“We condemn in strong terms the brigandage and the idea of Inflicting trauma on innocent dependants and violating their privacies without recourse to the rule of Law.”
The statement concluded that Obanikoro “has consulted with his Lawyers and are prepared to meet them in court to stop this intrusions and persecution.”
