Speaking at a press conference held on Tuesday at the OOPL premises, Managing Director Vitalis Ortese announced that the Library is also seeking an additional ₦2.5 billion as a “token acknowledgment and atonement” for the alleged reputational harm caused to the institution and its Chief Promoter, former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The Library, which described the incident as “a direct assault on democracy and the rule of law,” claimed EFCC operatives stormed the premises between 1 a.m. and 3 p.m., disrupting lawful activities and terrorizing patrons, including families, entrepreneurs, and international tourists.
The management accused the EFCC of breaching its own operational guidelines, noting that its chairman had in November 2023 banned night-time sting operations. It also faulted the Police for allegedly failing to coordinate with its officers stationed at the facility.
He said “The 1 am – 3 pm, August 10th invasion of our premises by EFCC operatives is not only unlawful— it is a direct assault on everything this institution stands for and, worst of all, an assault on every rule of law that is supposed to be the guide rail for democracy.
“This was not a coordinated security operation. It was a reckless, unannounced intrusion that endangered innocent lives and disrupted lawful activities. Families and international tourists were holidaying.
“Entrepreneurs were conducting business. Youths were organizing musical shows and entertainment events. These are the very expressions of creativity and productivity we are meant to encourage —not criminalise.
The library also condemned what he described as lack of inter-agency collaboration between the police and the EFCC, alleging that operatives of Ogun state police were not carried along in the operation.
Vitalise, equally warned the EFCC ‘illegal operation’ may threaten the well-being of the state.
“To the Governor of Ogun State, the Chief Security Officer of this territory: this incident is a wake-up call. The economic well-being of your state is being threatened. The prosperity mantra you champion is being eroded.
“When institutions like OOPL are treated like battlegrounds, the ripple effect damages tourism, investment, and public trust. We urge you to investigate this incident thoroughly and ensure that Ogun State does not become a Somalia of institutional lawlessness.
“To the Inspector General of Police, we raise a critical concern: your officers stationed at OOPL were left in the dark. They were not briefed, not respected, and not included in the operation. This glaring lack of inter-agency collaboration is unacceptable,” he added.
OOPL however demanded a public apology from both the EFCC and the Police to be published across major media platforms, while calling for a comprehensive investigation into the alleged brutalisation of over 100 patrons.
Vitalis said failure to meet these demands within seven days would leave the Library with no choice but to seek legal redress in court.
The OOPL boss disclosed that security personnel recovered 12 expended AK-47 pellets and a beret allegedly belonging to the operatives during the incident, adding that some victims are still hospitalised, while others are ready to testify in court.
