…wants public apologies from Police, EFCC
The Management of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, the Capital of Ogun State, has demanded a sum of N3.5 billion in damages from the Federal Government over early morning invasion of its premises by the operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
It also requested the Heads of two nation’s Law Enforcement Agencies, namely, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to tender public apologies televised on the major national televisions, published in the conventional Nigerian dailies and all social media platforms.
Recall that at about 1 am on Sunday, August 10th, 2025, the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly invaded Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) premises, assaulting and arresting scores of their guests as the EFCC claimed to have embarked on lawful and routine raids as part of security measures.
Speaking during a Press Conference held in Abeokuta on Wednesday, Vitalis Ortese, Managing Director, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), said the invasion “was not a coordinated security operation. It was a reckless, unannounced intrusion that endangered innocent lives and disrupted lawful activities.
“Families and international tourists were holidaying. Entrepreneurs were conducting business. Youths were organising musical shows and entertainment events. These are the very expressions of creativity and productivity we are meant to encourage.
“Yet, the EFCC has tepidly acknowledged the incident but, characteristically, put out statement which are at best half-truths, calculated to disguise their true intentions and motives, which was to wreck damage on patrons of OOPL, persons closely associated with OOPL, the institutional of OOPL itself and ultimately to attack the dignity and standing of H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR and all his interests.”
While speaking in company of their Counsel, Olumide Ayeni SAN, Ortese insisted that a comprehensive investigation should be undertaken by all relevant Security Agencies with their reports openly published, adding that if all the demands from the Federal Government were not met in seven days, the Management would be forced to seek legal redress.
“We therefore DEMAND a comprehensive investigation be undertaken by all relevant Security Agencies with their reports openly published, especially regarding the brutalization of our patrons being citizens who had apparently done nothing wrong nor apparently infracted any law other than engaging in a party as allowed under the law.
“In particular, it is a notorious fact of public knowledge that HE Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and his family as well as several of his close friends and associates, live and/or reside at the OOPL premises where the sordid events as described above, unfortunately occurred.
“That relevant authorities of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, particularly the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on the one hand, and the Inspector General ofthe Nigeria Police Force on the other, both issue separate public apologies to be widely published in all major media platforms including television, the print as well as social outfits inclusive of X (formerly knownas Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, Channels, AIT, NTA, TVC, Arise as well major newspaper and news magazines including Premium Times and Sahara Reporters.
“That immediate restitution for the damage caused, be made to those persons who were arrested and whose vehicle were carted away by the invasion force of the Police and EFCC, as well as for bodily injuries suffered by these persons numbering at least one hundred (100); be paid in the amount of at least One Billion Naira (N1Billion). We also demand that a further Two Billion and Five Hundred Million Naira (N 2.5 Billion) be paid in token acknowledgment and atonement for the immense damage caused to the reputation, business and our financial reputation as well to the reputation of our Chief Promoter (HE Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR).
“Finally, we have further instructed our lawyers that should these demands not be met in full within the next seven (7) days from today, Wednesday August 13th 2025, we shall have no alternative but to proceed to seek redress in a competent court of law without further recourse to the Police and the EFCC; and in which case our demands will NOT be limited to the foregoing”, he added.
