FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Business and Hoteliers Stakeholders Forum, BHSF, in Edo State yesterday decried the death of their businesses owing to the unwarranted arrest and harassment of their customers by law enforcement agents, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Addressing newsmen at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Secretariat in Benin, the Chairman, Business and Hoteliers Stakeholders Forum, BHSF, Bishop Omogiade Edokpolo urged the EFCC to desist from indiscriminate arrest of their customers and lodgers, saying over 93 young people were arrested in various hotels in the state recently.
He added that the whereabouts of the 93 lodgers arrested by security agents remain unknown to their families.
Edokpolo appealed to the chairman of the EFCC to swiftly address the issues of unwarranted arrests by its operatives in Edo State , adding that any sort of arrest that the EFCC wishes to carry should at least be backed with the provision of a legal warrant.
He also called on EFCC Chairman to redeploy the Edo state EFCC Zonal Director to another state as businesses and economic activities in the state are suffering owing to their style of operations, targeting hotels and businesses only in Edo.
According to Edokpolo, EFCC have by their actions, so far shown a calculated attempt to suffocate businesses in Edo.
He said, “What we will no longer accept as business owners the EFCC oppression, depression of businesses in Edo State” , adding that, “Our biggest fear is not that we don’t want them to do their job, but they have successfully created a runaway mentality in people from owning and operating businesses in Edo State.”
Responding to the allegation via telephone, EFCC spokesman, Mr. Dele Oyewale said the Business and Hoteliers Stakeholders Forum in Edo State have no understanding of the operations of the agency on its mandate to tackle all economic and financial crimes in the country.
He stated that the EFCC investigates cases of economic and financial crimes, including corruption, money laundering and other related offenses.
