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How EFCC Officials Allegedly Tortured Lagos Clubgoers, Forced Out Naked Couple

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Customers and workers at the Lakers Lounge Hotel and Bar, Ikorodu, Lagos State, have accused officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of subjecting them to torture during a raid on the facility.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the workers were attending to customers at the club when the armed officials invaded the premises around 11.30pm on Friday, June 3.

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The officials, who were said to have presented no warrant, also allegedly removed the closed-circuit television in the course of the operation.

They allegedly ordered customers and workers to lie on the floor and beat up those who protested against the raid.

A customer, Oladapo Ogunyinka, said the EFCC officials seized peoples’ phones, adding that he had yet to recover his seized property.

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He said, “I left Ikeja with two guests to have fun at the club. We were upstairs when the EFCC operatives invaded the premises with guns and sticks. One of them, Olumide, approached our direction with a gun, seized my iPhone PRO Max 13 and Samsung Galaxy A22 valued at N900,000 and ordered us to go down.

“When we got down, the operatives told us to lie down flat. Immediately, the official that seized my phones started doing a video record. The officials went to the hotel attached to the club, broke the doors and brought lodgers outside. There was a particular couple that came out; the man was wearing only boxers, and the lady, a pair of pants and a bra.

READ ALSO: Alleged N2bn Fraud: Bayelsa-based Christ Embassy Pastor, Wife Head For Court As EFCC Declares Them Wanted

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“There was a lady that started convulsing due to the shock of the incident and one of the officers still beat her with a stick and said she was pretending. They treated people like animals; if I am lying, they have the CCTV footage with them, they should play it.

“They tied us in pairs of two; I explained to one of the operatives that I was a realtor that just came to the club to have fun and he informed the officer that led the operation from Ibadan, Chris Odofin, and I was untied. But they did not release my phones.”

Ogunyinka said the operatives instructed him to visit the EFCC office at Ibadan, Oyo State, to ask for one Momoh to claim his phones, adding that despite visiting the office, he had yet to retrieve his property.

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“I had nothing incriminating on my phones, so I visited their office, asked for Momoh, who took me to where the seized phones were kept, but I didn’t see my phones. I became angry and started shouting and luckily, I was able to identify the person that seized my phones and Momoh also saw the officer.

“So, their boss had to intervene and told Momoh to call the officer. Their boss, who is a woman, gave them 72 hours to produce my phones, but till date, they have yet to produce them. It is surprising that I gave my phones to an EFCC official and he stole my phones instead of tendering them as exhibits.

“The incident was a nightmare. They harassed customers and workers at the club and didn’t even interview most people. I explained everything to their boss in Ibadan and she was just apologising,” he added.

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The Human Resources Manager at the club, Ajoke Quadri, said the EFCC officials presented no warrant, adding that business activities at the club had been paralysed after the raid.

READ ALSO: EFCC Arraigns Company Executive Over €349,000 Fraud

She said, “The EFCC officials destroyed the club’s property; they burst my office and the safe where I keep staff documents. They also destroyed the camera room, took all the DVR and hard drive and cut the wires connecting the CCTV.

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“We also have a hotel attached to the club. They took the master card from our receptionist, went to the hotel’s rooms and the rooms where the master card wasn’t letting them to gain entry, they broke down the doors, raised the beds up and brought out lodgers.

“About 105 people work with us; but those operatives harassed my staff, including Gloria Nwankwo, and one of my supervisors, among others on duty. We had to rush the supervisor to a hospital as he could not hear properly after the attack.

“They also burst my boss’ office, took away three tablets used to punch in sales; they took two phones we used for receiving company transfer alerts. All staff and customers’ phones were taken; most of my staff had to go to Ibadan to retrieve their phones.

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“I had to also go to Ibadan to retrieve some of our property. It was when I got to Ibadan that I was able to assist some of the people, including a nurse that was arrested at De Butler’s club, but had no money to return to Lagos.”

Recall that officials the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency recently raided the club and allegedly brutalised customers and damaged some property.

CCTV installed on the club premises revealed as the NDLEA operatives ordered customers to raise their hands while they searched their pockets, bags and purses one after the other.

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As seen in the video clip, customers, who resisted the search, were beaten and forcefully dragged from the club during the raid.

In 2019, men of the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Lagos State Police Command also invaded the club and seized from its customers and workers valuables and cash running into several millions of naira.

The management of the club had sought redress over the incident as the Lagos State Police Command arrested 13 of the 19 police operatives for professional misconduct.

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Counsel for the club, Femi Martins, lamented the constant raids on the club by security agents, noting that some rivals were trying to perpetrate unfair actions to run the club out of business.

A rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, said a lot of victims had been wrongly arrested and stigmatised in the guise of searching for Internet fraudsters, adding that those whose rights were violated should seek redress in court.

He said, “EFCC in recent times has become arbitrary in the way its operatives go about the discharge of their functions. There have been several allegations about the highhandedness of the commission in handling cases regarding cybercrime.

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“In their attempt to go after the so-called Yahoo boys, they continuously violate the rights of innocent people. It is expected that before such an operation takes place, a proper search warrant would have been obtained to enable the commission to have legal access to the private property of citizens whether it is built for business or residential purposes.

“And a search warrant has to be targeted at a specific property and individual. Before a search warrant is issued under the administration of criminal justice act, there has to be reasonable suspicion.

“In a situation where they just invade premises and pick people indiscriminately, and begin to scout for evidence implicating the people that they have arrested, it is not a lawful way of enforcing the law.”

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READ ALSO: N80bn Fraud: EFCC Uncovers 17 Properties Linked To Accountant-General

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, had in a statement said the commission arrested 140 suspects in separate sting operations at popular hotels, including Lakers Lounge Hotel and Bar and De Butlers, following credible intelligence on their involvement in internet-related fraud.

“Items recovered from the suspects include exotic cars, electronic devices, laptop computers and mobile phones. The suspects will be charged to court as soon as the investigations are concluded,” the statement said.

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Contacted for a follow-up reaction, Uwujaren said, “There is nothing to add to the statement that we issued.”

PUNCH.

 

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Metro

Army Kills Notorious Bandit, Babangida, In Kogi

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Troops of 12 Brigade Nigerian Army under Operation ACCORD III, in conjunction with Other Hybrid Forces (OHF), have killed Babangida Kachala, a notorious bandit and second-in-command to Kachala Shuaibu, the leader of a bandit group operating within Masalaci Boka and Ofere Forest areas of Kogi State.

The Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Hassan Abdullahi Lieutenant in a statement issued on Saturday and made available to newsmen, said on 11 September 2025, following credible intelligence on the movement of bandits within Ofere Forest and Ayetoro Gbede general area, the combined troops laid an ambush at a suspected bandit crossing point.

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The statement read: “Although initial contact was not made, the troops, while withdrawing to base, ran into an ambush staged by the criminals along their route.

READ ALSO:Troops Eliminate Three Kidnappers During Ransom Collection In Plateau

“In the ensuing firefight, the gallant troops engaged the bandits with superior firepower, neutralizing one of the criminals. The troops thereafter exploited the area, during which they recovered 1 fully loaded magazine, 31 mobile phones, a blood pressure machine, packs of Tramadol tablets, fetish charms, and the sum of ₦16,000 cash. Bloodstains observed at the scene further suggested that several other bandits escaped with gunshot wounds.

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“Subsequent intelligence confirmed that among those who fled with gunshot wounds was Babangida Kachala, a notorious bandit and second-in-command to Kachala Shuaibu, the leader of a bandit group operating within Masalaci Boka and Ofere Forest areas of Kogi State. He was later confirmed dead.

READ ALSO:PHOTOS: Troops Uncover Cache Of Unexploded Bombs Under Borno Bridge

“Troops of 12 Brigade under Operation ACCORD III continue to dominate the area of responsibility with patrols and ambushes aimed at totally decimating bandits and other criminal elements within the boundaries of Kogi State. The morale and fighting efficiency of the troops remain high as they sustain unrelenting pressure on the criminals.

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“The Nigerian Army reassures the good people of Kogi State of its determination to restore lasting peace and security, while encouraging citizens to provide timely and credible information to aid ongoing operations.”

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Metro

Two Bodies Recovered From Yaba Building Collapse

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Photo: File copy

Yaba building collapse
Two male dead bodies have been recovered from a three-storey building that collapsed under construction on Friday night at Yaba, a suburb of Lagos.

Mrs Ibitayo Adenike, Acting Head, National Emergency Management Agency (Lagos Operations Office), disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

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NAN reports that so far, two dead bodies have been recovered, while four persons have been rescued and are currently receiving treatment.

READ ALSO:Edo Govt Demolishes Building Owned by Suspected Cultist

Adenike said that the building at No 333 Borno Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, collapsed on Friday night by 8.30 p.m. trapping several persons.

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She added that search and rescue operation was still ongoing.

She noted that the number of people still trapped under the rubble could not be determined until the building was completely brought down to ground level.

She listed emergency responders at the scene to include the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Building and Control Agency, the Nigeria Police Force, among others.

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Metro

My Ex-wife Refused To Pack Out Of My House After Our Marriage Was Dissolved, Man Tells Court

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…I contributed N650,000 to the building of the house —Wife

…You’re now a tenant and trespassing, move out, court orders woman

A man, Quadri, has dragged his ex-wife, Gbemisola, before Grade A Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, on the account of illegal possession of his properties, a three-bedroom apartment she was living in and also his shop, where she displayed her goods.

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Quadri stated that Gbemisola had been in possession of these properties for more than one year, after the court had pronounced their wedlock dissolved.

According to Quadri, since they were no longer husband and wife, he regarded Gbemisola as either a tenant or a trespasser.

He further stated that he served

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Gbemisola notices to quit but that she remained adamant.

The plaintiff thus prayed the court to rule that the defendant should vacate both his house and shop without delay.

READ ALSO:My Wife Sleeps In Leggings, Denies Me Sex —Husband

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Quadri in his testimony said: “My marriage to my wife was pronounced dissolved by this honourable court last year August after I brought a divorce suit against her as a result of her atrocities which I could no longer tolerate.

“The court declared that we ceased to be husband and wife and ordered that we go our different ways.

“My lord, my ex-wife has refused to obey the court’s ruling.

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“She insisted that she would neither move out of my house nor pack her wares from my shop.

“I raised these buildings through my sweat, but she is now laying claim to them.

“I enlightened my ex-wife in line with the law that she has automatically become a tenant or regarded as trespassing on my property since our marriage has been dissolved, but she obviously did not realise the gravity of these offences.

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READ ALSO:My Wife Harasses, Slaps Me All The Time —Husband

“I served her quit notices, but she remained adamant.

“My lord, I came to court that it might rule that my ex-wife vacates my three-bedroom apartment and shop without delay.”

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Gbemisola, however, refused to be addressed as a tenant.

The defendant explained that she and the plaintiff both contributed financially to the construction of two properties he was now solely laying claim to.

Gbemisola insisted that the properties be sold and the proceeds from the sale shared among her, her ex-husband, and their children.

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READ ALSO:Court Orders Divorce-seeking Woman To Pay Her Husband N120,000

Gbemisola said in her evidence: “I refused to be addressed as a tenant in the house I contributed my hard-earned money towards its building.

“The two properties my husband is laying claim to are products of our joint efforts, so I cannot be referred to as trespassing.

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“He bought the land for N700,000, while I contributed three times towards the building project.

“I contributed N200,000, N150,000 and N300,000 respectively.

“I visited the site at three different times to inspect the construction work going on at that time.

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“I did not document the amount I contributed and those of other expenses because I did all I did out of love, and also for the sake of our children.

READ ALSO:My Husband Gives Me Only N50 For Food, Woman Tells Court

He wants me to vacate the said apartment and shop because he wants to remarry.

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“He wants to cheat me, and I will not allow it.

“My lord, I pray that the court should rule that we sell both properties and share the proceeds from it into three.

“He will take a share, I will take mine, and our children also will have theirs.”

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The court president, Mrs S.M. Akintayo, giving her judgment stated that the defendant had no right to still be in possession of both property, the three-bedroom apartment, and shop since the court had dissolved their union after the plaintiff dragged her to court, laid claims against her and judgment was given after the court had heard both parties.

According to Akintayo, a landlord has unfiltered legal right to terminate a tenancy upon giving adequate notices.

She added that it is a settled position of law and requirement of the law that a landlord can claim possession of a premise once the required statutory notices have been issued and served on the tenant.

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Akintayo ruling said, “The court hereby orders the defendant to vacate the three-bedroom apartment and shop on or before September 12,2025.”

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