Invasion of Property: OOPL Gives EFCC 7-day Ultimatum, Demands N3.5bn Damages

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The management of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun State, has demanded for public apologies from the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Inspector General of Police in all major media platforms over the last Sunday invasion of its premises.

The company also demanded for N3.5billion as
restitution for the damage caused to the victims of the illegal invasion
and in atonement for the immense damage caused to the reputation of the company, as well as Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who is the chief promoter of the company.

The Managing Director of the OOPL, Mr. Vitalis Ortese, who made the demand while addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, noted that all the demands must be met within the next seven days.

It was reported that operatives of the EFCC stormed the OOPL premises in the early hours of Sunday and arrested 93 suspected internet fraudsters, seized 18 vehicles and mobile devices.

Ortese, who described the EFCC’s actions as “unlawful” and “a direct assault on everything the institution stands for”, demanded for a comprehensive investigation into the incident, adding that the reports should be openly published.

He said, “The management of OOPL is determined to pursue every legal avenue to ensure this never happens again. We have engaged legal counsel, security experts, and civil society partners to demand accountability, enforce institutional respect, and protect the rights of our patrons and staff”.

“Both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Nigeria Police Force (NPF) are jointly and severally liable for the deliberate embarrassing and utterly malicious damage occasioned by their invasion of the 9th and 10th August, 2025 as aforestated”.

“We are fully persuaded that the acts are not only aggravated, unconstitutional, oppressive, capricious and arbitrary, the actions are also clearly actuated by malice against the institution of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library and also of its Chief Promoter HE Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR who was Head of State (1976-1979) and President of Nigeria (1999-2007)”.

“The foregoing actions are clearly calculated not only to oppress and brutalise as well as violate in gross terms, the fundamental and other rights of the more than one hundred (100) persons as aforestated; but also calculated to wreak maximum damage on the legitimate, commercial business and financial interests of our Client as well as damage the standing of our Client and its Chief Promoter in the eyes of right thinking members of the public both in Nigeria and internationally”.

“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 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 of the 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 known as 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)”.

“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”.

While calling on the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede do his work and pursue justice, Mr. Ortese enjoined him to do so with discretion, professionalism, and respect.

“The indiscretion displayed in this operation has created an aura of fear among youths who are striving to earn legitimate incomes. It sends the wrong message —that creativity and enterprise are suspect, that ambition is dangerous, and that public spaces are unsafe.

Mr. Ortese said, “the 1 am – 3 pm, August 10th invasion of our premises by EFCC operatives is not only unlawful, it is a direct assault on everything this institution stands for and, worse of all, an assault on every rule of law that is supposed to be the guide rail for democracy”.

“This 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 organizing musical shows and entertainment events. These are the very expressions of creativity and productivity we are meant to encourage —not criminalize.

“To the Inspector General of Police, we raise a critical concern: your officers stationed at OOPL were left in the dark. They were not briefed, not respected, and not included in the operation. This glaring lack of inter-agency collaboration is unacceptable. It undermines the credibility of our national security framework and puts lives at risk”.

“To the National Security Adviser, we ask: is this the standard of coordination we expect from our security agencies? When institutions are violated without cause, when law enforcement operates in silos, and when citizens are terrorized in peaceful spaces, the very foundation of national security is shaken”.

“To the Governor of Ogun State, the Chief Security Officer of this territory: this incident is a wake-up call. The economic well-being of your state is being threatened. The prosperity mantra you champion is being eroded.
When institutions like OOPL are treated like battlegrounds, the ripple effect damages tourism, investment, and public trust. We urge you to investigate this incident thoroughly and ensure