Footage has emerged of the moment operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, shot in the air in Epe, Lagos State, as they attempted to search the country home of ex-Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday morning.
A 35-second video posted by Coldblooded on Twitter shows people surrounding a minibus and a white pickup truck with at least two armed personnel parked in front of Ambode’s Epe residence.
Amidst the chaos, some of the EFCC operatives attempted to open their vehicles without success.
Moments after, one of the residents could be heard shouting in Yoruba, “Burst their tyres.”
As the commotion continues, the vehicles are forced to drive away, with the armed officers shooting intermittently into the air.
As they speed off, the back windshield of the bus appears to have been shattered.
It could not be ascertained if anyone was injured.
According to the anti-graft agency, Ambode is among some former governors who are under investigation.
Some Epe residents on Tuesday had protested at the gate of the house of former governor.
EFCC operatives in the early hours of Tuesday were at the residence of the ex-governor.
The Commission said that it is only investigating Ambode, as it insisted that it did not raid the residence of the ex-governor under any guise.
It said whatever it is presently doing with regards to the investigation is in line with its mandate and the rule of law.
It made the clarifications in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Tony Orilade.
The statement said: “The EFCC has since early hours of today, been inundated with calls that operatives of the Commission raided the residence of the former governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode.
“We need to state for the records that the EFCC did not raid Ambode’s house.
“It is instructive that his administration, like other former governors, is under investigation since they no longer constitutionally enjoy immunity against prosecution.
“The commission hereby states with high sense of responsibility that the operatives did not raid Ambode’s residence.
“Whatever the commission is presently doing with regards to the investigation is in line with its mandate and the rule of law.
“We wish to inform the social media to be circumspect in the reportage of any news with regards to investigation activities of the Commission.
“As a tradition, the Commission does not carry out investigation on the pages of the newspapers or through the media.
“Our operations are always covert until at a time when we file charges in court.
“Therefore, the attempt to cast the Commission in a bad light is unacceptable as the EFCC will never engage in illegal act. We remain committed to the war against corruption.”
Punch/The Nation
