Sunday, August 10, 2025 - The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has dismissed claims by Nigerian musician and hotel proprietor, Felix Duke, that its operatives stormed his hotel in Lagos, vandalised property, and stole foreign currency.
Duke, who also serves as president of the Creative Industry
Group, alleged that on August 1, eight armed men arrived at the Duke and
Duchess Hotel in the Abule Egba area in an unmarked bus, identifying themselves
as EFCC personnel but failing to present any warrant.
He claimed the men attempted to detain his wife, an American
citizen, who refused to comply without a court order.
“They blocked the hotel entrance, chased away customers, and
forcibly entered rooms, saying they were looking for me. I later found out they
made away with €5,000 from my room,” Duke told journalists.
He suggested the incident was linked to an ongoing land
dispute with a retired soldier who had previously petitioned the EFCC against
him. According to Duke, he had earlier filed a separate petition against the
same individual.
The musician said he has taken legal action against both the
EFCC and the petitioner, alleging a breach of his fundamental rights. His suit
seeks a formal apology and N50 million in damages.
In a swift reaction on Saturday, EFCC spokesperson Dele
Oyewale denied any connection to the reported incident.
“There is nothing like that. The Lagos Directorate confirmed
no such operation occurred. It’s not the EFCC,” Oyewale stated, adding that the
agency’s most recent operation in Lagos took place on Wednesday at Chevron on
Lagos Island, resulting in several arrests.
He also advised Duke to “redirect his energy and insinuations to other quarters, not the EFCC.”
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