EFCC locks out construction workers, seals multi-billion Naira mall in Enugu

From: Madu Ezenoha, Enugu

Officers of the commission, who reportedly came from her Abuja headquarters reportedly, stormed the construction site, which is almost at completion stage, and chased away all the workers.

Approval for the mall was given by the former Governor of the State, Sullivan Chime, even as many speculate that officials of the past administration may have interests in the project being undertaken by foreign investors.

The re-sealing of the premises happened early morning Wednesday as the workers were settling down for the day’s work.

When contacted by journalists, the Head of Public Affairs of EFCC in Enugu, Mr. Chris Oluka, confirmed the incident.

Oluka said that the managers of the building flouted the directive of EFCC on the construction of the building.

According to him, the officers from Abuja raided the mall and chased away workers who were recently recruited preparatory to official opening of business on Friday.

“Yes, our men went there to disperse them because they flouted our instructions. We had sealed the premises and wrote ‘under EFCC investigation’, but they covered the write-up with paint,” he said.

Oluka recalled that the commission had earlier in the year sealed the mall, located beside the Enugu State House of Assembly, by writing the inscription ‘Under EFCC Investigation’.

However, that did not deter the managers as they continued with construction work at the site.

Only recently, the Zonal Head of Operations of EFCC South East, Mr. Johnson Babalola, had during an interaction with journalists at Enugu Press Centre, said it was not against any known law for the owners to go ahead with construction work.

Babalola had explained that since the property was not yet under permanent forfeiture to the government, “construction work can still go on while investigations continue”.

But speaking further on the matter, Oluka said that allowing the business to operate in the building could jeopardize investigations.

“I do not have much to say about this because the officers that dispersed the workers this morning came from Abuja,” Oluka said.

On the invitation of the managers of the mall to the zonal office of the commission after the workers were dispersed, Oluka said it should not be misconstrued as an arrest.

“They were invited to come and explain why they did what we told them not to do,” Oluka said.

Some workers at the mall, however, expressed displeasure over the incident, describing it as anti-labour.

Some of the newly recruited workers, expressed apprehension over the development as it was coming two days to the official opening.