Anti graft body, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has reacted to claims by former Big Brother Naija reality TV star, Dorathy Bachor, that her house was broken into by its operatives.
In a statement on Monday, it said its operatives broke into the house because they refused to open the door.
It said: “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been drawn to a post on Instagram by one Dorothy Bachor, alleging that operatives of the Commission broke into her home in the early hours of today, 23rd August, 2021.
“The Commission can confirm that operatives from the Lagos Command of the Commission, acting on verified intelligence, executed a Search Warrant at a block of flats located in the Lekki area of Lagos on Monday, 23rd August, 2021 during which nine internet fraud suspects were arrested. Ms. Bachor’s apartment happened to be one of the flats in the building.
“EFCC operatives had knocked on her entrance door, identified themselves as being from the Commission on a mission to execute a Search Warrant. But they were refused entry, for several minutes by Bachor’s sister.
“The operatives were left with no choice than to force their way in, lest suspects escape or destroy vital evidence. It is important to state that law abiding citizens have no reason to refuse the execution of a validly obtained Search Warrant.
“And, contrary to the information making the rounds in the social media, Ms. Bachor was not present during the operation and the anti- EFCC stories about her coming out half-naked among other fantastical details appear to have been invented to fit the pattern she and other internet-fueled stars so desperately want to push about the EFCC.
“It is important to reiterate that nine alleged internet fraud suspects were apprehended in the block of flats housing Ms. Bachor’s apartment.”
Dorathy, had earlier on her Instagram page, lamented the sad incident and expressed frustration at how unsafe it is to be a Nigerian.
She had alleged that the commission.s armed operatives broke into her Lagos residence around 04.45am on Monday.
According to the reality star, the anti-graft officials allegedly broke into her house, saying they were after a suspected internet fraudsters.
She said the EFCC officials identified her as a BBNaija star and left afterwards.
The former housemate in the 2020 edition of BBNaija television reality show took to her Instastory almost immediately after the alleged raid on Monday to narrate the incident, saying: “I feel like my head is about to explode, I’m numb.
“At 04:45am, I heard a loud sound and voices followed after. I rush(ed) out almost naked to see 5 fully armed @officialefcc men in my living room and one of them saying, ‘oh na that big brother babe be this’.
“In my confused state, I’m trying to understand what in the hell was going on, why did they break my door?
“Then, one of them said they were looking for someone who ran into my estate and I should lock my door, stay indoors and not say a word.
“I’m shaking at this point and so confused because how exactly is this even okay?
“Still shaking, I’m trying to close my already broken door when my sister screamed my name and I ran back upstairs to see my mom almost have a panic attack.
“I have never felt so helpless in my whole life.
“@officialefcc you now break into people’s houses and jump estate fences all in the name of doing your job. Shame on you all.”
When The Punch contacted EFCC Head of Media, and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, had said that he needed to make some findings before making any comment on the matter.
“I’ll find out. I can’t react to what I have not seen,” he told The PUNCH on Monday morning.
This is not the first time the anti-graft agency would be accused of breaking into people’s homes and hotel rooms in the dead of the night.
In July, EFCC operatives arrested at least 30 suspects during a raid on Parktonian Hotel in the Lekki area of Lagos.
During the raid, the operatives were alleged to have gained entry into the occupants’ rooms by seizing the master cards from the management of the hotel at gunpoint.
When the operatives gained entry into the rooms, it was learnt that some of the occupants were naked under the duvet as the operatives interrogated the occupants.
Also, last month, a Nollywood filmmaker, Biodun Stephen, alleged that armed EFCC officials broke into her hotel room in Lagos but apologised to her when they realised that she was not the one they were after.
The Punch / The Nation
