EFCC: “We were chasing fraud suspects”
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – Ex-Big Brother Naija (BBN) housemate, Dorathy Bachor, has alleged that her house was invaded by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) in the wee hours of Monday, August 23, 2021.
The reality show star, narrating the shocking incident, said that EFCC officials claimed they were chasing an alleged internet fraudster, who they suspected ran into her compound.
According to Dorathy, who came second in the last edition of BBN, won by budding musician, Laycon: “At 4:45am I heard a loud sound and voices followed after, I rush out almost naked to see five 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 down 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.”
In a response to the incident, Spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the incident, explaining that the anti-graft operatives had chased some fraudsters into her flat.
The response, which was contained in a press statement, read: “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.”