The Business and Hoteliers Forum (BHSF), Edo State Chapter, has decried what it described as incessant harassment of its customers by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the state.
Speaking at a press briefing yesterday at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benin City, the forum’s chairman, Omogiade Edokpolo, said the situation has crippled many businesses and forced several operators out of the state.
Edokpolo alleged that the EFCC Zonal Director in Benin, Mr. Effa Okim, has overseen illegal arrests of customers and youths for more than five years, damaging Edo’s reputation as a place of tolerance and hospitality. He warned that if urgent action is not taken, businesses in the state could face further collapse.
The group called on the Federal Government, state governors, the EFCC national chairman, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the Attorney General of the Federation to intervene and end what they described as unlawful intimidation.
According to the forum, EFCC was originally known for going after treasury looters and fraudsters, but in Edo, it has shifted to targeting innocent business owners and hotel guests. They cited a recent incident in which over 93 youths were allegedly arrested during a birthday party in a hotel in Benin and taken to an undisclosed location.
The hoteliers, while declaring support for the legitimate work of the EFCC, stressed that they oppose the agency’s current “oppressive style,” which they said has negatively affected their finances. They further alleged that EFCC operatives often storm hotels without arrest warrants, an act they described as unlawful.
The forum presented three major demands:
- Immediate release of the 93 youths allegedly detained illegally.
- That EFCC must present valid warrants and involve hotel management before carrying out any arrests in their facilities.
- Immediate transfer of the EFCC Benin Zonal Director, Mr. Effa Okim, whom they accused of spearheading illegal crackdowns.
The body reiterated its readiness to cooperate with the EFCC in fighting genuine fraud but insisted that the ongoing intimidation of law-abiding businesses and customers must stop.
