The management of Conference Hotels, has absolved the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of Saturday’s night invasion of its facility in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The hotel management said people disguising as EFCC agents stormed the facility in search of an internet fraudster popularly known as “Yahoo boy”.

Earlier reports claimed that armed EFCC operatives on Saturday night, around 2:00 a.m, invaded the hotel, part of a luxury accommodation chain owned by former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel.

The reports had stated that invaders  allegedly stripped, robbed and shot repeatedly to traumatise guests at the hotel.

However, the hotel management in a statement on Sunday said the ‘operation’ was carried out by gunmen posing as EFCC operatives.

The statement read, “Around 2:00am on Sunday 28 Nov 2021, some unknown gunmen believed to be acting at the behest of one of the anti-graft agencies stormed the premises of the hotel facility in Abeokuta in search of an unknown yahoo boy.

“Unnecessary shots were fired and our innocent guests were scared.

“Thankfully, our various security agencies were able to restore law and order and no life was lost.

“We thank all our customers for their patience and understanding and reassure all and the general public of their safety at all times in all our facility.”

The hotel stressed that no guest was stripped or arrested on their facility.

“They (gunmen) said they were looking for a particular person, who was not even lodged at the hotel. But our security men and other security agencies around brought the situation under control as they [gunmen] did not even have access to any room as to disturb any guest. The only disturbing matter was the warning gunshots fired into the air to gain entrance”, the statement added.

EFCC has continually faced backlash over incessant raids on private facilities and breaching into people’s privacy and dignity – often without warrants.

Also, the Public Relations Officers of both Ibadan and Lagos offices of the EFCC, have  denied knowledge of the alleged invasion.

The PRO of the EFCC, Ibadan office, Tokunbo Odebiyi, simply said, “I have no information about the operation. I’m not aware of any invasion of any hotel in Abeokuta.”

Also, his counterpart in Lagos, Ayo Oyewole, said he was not aware of the raid.