The governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said that the raid carried out by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on some nightclubs in Akure at the weekend must have been done based on credible intelligence.
Aiyedatiwa, who disclosed that the EFCC has the mandate to arrest suspects on their radar, advised that those innocent of the alleged should seek legal redress.
While meeting with the owners of nightclubs over the incident, the governor sympathised with them on the damage done to their facilities during the raid.
The EFCC had stated that its operatives stormed the Signature and Alba Royal nightclubs to effect the arrest of 127 people allegedly holding ‘Yahoo Parties’ and those who had been on the radar of the Commission after receiving intel.
Aiyedatiwa said there cannot be smoke without fire as regards the raid and urged the nightclub owners to compile a record of all their facilities destroyed to the necessary authorities.
The governor disclosed that he has been in communication with top security agencies to get credible reports on the incident and promised to intervene wherever necessary.
The club owners, who appreciated Aiyedatiwa for the timely meeting, said they were not part of those planning to hold a protest over the incident.
The owners of nightclubs and hotels affected by the raid also gave accounts of how their facilities were vandalised by the officers of the anti-graft agency.
The meeting was attended by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye; the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Segun Ayerin; and a former member of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Adefisoye (Small Alhaji), who is also a nightclub owner.
