The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed why it broke into the house of Dorathy Bachor, ex-housemate of the BBNaija reality TV show.
Dorathy had earlier said that EFCC operatives broke down her door to gain entry into her house at 4:45 am today.
Registering her shock, she said she ran almost “naked while her mother nearly suffered a panic attack”.
The reality TV star went ahead to criticise the EFCC, alleging that its operatives often harassed citizens at gunpoint.
Reacting in a statement, Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC’s spokesman, said its operatives had knocked on the door to Dorathy’s Lekki home to execute a search warrant in its hunt for crime suspects.
According to the statement, the commission also said its operatives were, however, denied entry into the flat, prompting them to “force their way” into the apartment.
“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,” the spokesman said.
“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. Law-abiding citizens have no reason to refuse the execution of a validly obtained search Warrant.”
On the warrant, Uwujaren said that nine internet fraud suspects were nabbed in the block of Dorathy’s apartment.
“Contrary to the information in the social media, Ms. Bachor was not present during the operation,” it added.
“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.
“Nine alleged internet fraud suspects were apprehended in the block of flats housing Ms. Bachor’s apartment.”