The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has refuted allegations by Nigerian musician and hotel owner Felix Duke that its operatives stormed his Lagos hotel, damaged property, and stole foreign currency.
Duke, who is also 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. He said they identified themselves as EFCC officials but failed to present a warrant.
According to him, the men tried to detain his wife, an American citizen, but she refused to comply without a court order.
“They blocked the hotel entrance, chased away customers, and forcefully entered rooms, claiming they were looking for me. I later discovered that €5,000 was missing from my room,” Duke told journalists.
He linked the incident to an ongoing land dispute with a retired soldier, who, he said, had previously petitioned the EFCC against him. Duke noted that he had also filed a counter-petition against the same individual.
The musician has now taken legal action against both the EFCC and the petitioner, accusing them of breaching his fundamental rights. In his suit, he is seeking a formal apology and N50 million in damages.
Reacting on Saturday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale dismissed the claims, saying there was no such operation.
“There is nothing like that. The Lagos Directorate confirmed no such operation occurred. It’s not the EFCC,” Oyewale said. He explained that the commission’s most recent operation in Lagos was on Wednesday at Chevron on Lagos Island, which led to several arrests.
He urged Duke to “redirect his energy and insinuations to other quarters, not the EFCC.”
