THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied claims that it deliberately targeted the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during a sting operation that led to the arrest of 93 suspected internet fraudsters earlier this week.
The clarification came after the OOPL management on Wednesday condemned the late-night raid and arrest of guests lodged within its premises, describing the action as a “calculated attack” on former President Olusegun Obasanjo and a blatant violation of guests’ rights.
The OOPL demanded ₦3.5 billion in damages and a public apology within seven days, threatening legal action if the EFCC fails to comply.
In a statement issued on Thursday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said the operation was conducted at a hotel within the precincts of the OOPL, not at the library itself.
He explained that the sting followed credible intelligence indicating that the suspects were holding a pool party to celebrate alleged cybercrime activities.
The gathering was initially planned for two other locations before being shifted to the hotel near OOPL in a bid to avoid detection.
“The former president’s facility was not a target of EFCC’s operations. The suspects were the target and have confessed to involvement in internet crimes,” Oyewale stressed.
According to him, profiling of those arrested revealed that almost all were implicated in offences such as impersonation, identity theft, and internet fraud.
Oyewale disclosed that 23 of the 93 suspects will be arraigned today, Friday, August 15, 2025, before Justice D. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos. The arraignment will be conducted in batches, with the remaining suspects to follow in subsequent court appearances.
The EFCC maintained that the operation was intelligence-led, adding that the shift of the party venue to the OOPL precinct was a deliberate attempt by the suspects to use the high-profile location as a cover against possible arrest.
The anti-graft agency said the arrests form part of its ongoing crackdown on cybercrime syndicates across the country, which have been linked to a rise in online scams and identity theft cases affecting Nigerians and foreigners alike.
