By Adejoke Adeleye
The management of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) has condemned what it described as an “unlawful and malicious” invasion of its premises by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on August 10, 2025, demanding ₦3.5 billion in damages and a public apology.
Speaking at the OOPL Penthouse in Abeokuta, Managing Director Vitalis Ortese alleged that the two-hour operation, which also involved police officers, was not a coordinated security exercise but “an outright assault on the rule of law and the values of democracy.”
He said the raid disrupted ongoing events, endangered visitors, and undermined the library’s role as a hub for education, culture, and tourism.
Ortese accused the EFCC and Nigeria Police Force of acting with “malice” against both the institution and its chief promoter, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, stressing that the incident exposed a “glaring lack of inter-agency collaboration” and posed a threat to public safety.
He urged Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun to order a thorough investigation, warning that such incidents could erode investor confidence, damage tourism, and turn the state into “a Somalia of institutional lawlessness.”
He demanded immediate restitution of ₦1 billion for damages to over 100 patrons allegedly brutalized or whose vehicles were seized, as well as ₦2.5 billion for reputational, business, and financial losses to the library and Chief Obasanjo.
Ortese issued a seven-day ultimatum beginning August 13 for the EFCC and Police to meet these demands or face legal action, vowing to proceed to court without further recourse to the agencies if the deadline lapses.
According to him, the raid not only violated the rights of patrons but also struck at “the soul of Nigeria’s democracy” by criminalising legitimate public gatherings.
Source; PM News
