The silence hanging over some of Ado Ekiti’s once-bustling hotels has become the latest talking point after former Ekiti Central Senator Babafemi Ojudu claimed that intensified operations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have driven many suspected internet fraudsters out of the state. In a satirical twist, it appears the loudest sound in some lounges is now the echo of empty chairs wondering where their regular VIP customers disappeared to overnight.
According to Ojudu, the establishment of a permanent EFCC Zonal Directorate in Ado Ekiti has changed the atmosphere across the city. While the anti-graft agency has consistently maintained that its mission is to investigate and prosecute financial crimes—not to disrupt legitimate businesses—the former senator argues that the economic ripple effects are already visible in hotels, restaurants, apartments and entertainment centres.
When Luxury Parking Lots Suddenly Found Plenty of Parking Space Because Of EFCC
In what could be described as a comedy of unintended consequences, Ojudu narrated how he visited a prominent hotel expecting the usual lively atmosphere but instead found himself enjoying almost exclusive ownership of the restaurant for nearly an hour. The swimming pool remained calm, the lounge remained quiet, and the parking lot looked as though luxury vehicles had collectively decided to observe a public holiday.
He also claimed that several hotels, supermarkets, beer parlours, mechanics and landlords have been complaining about declining patronage since suspected internet fraud suspects reportedly began relocating to larger cities such as Lagos, Ibadan, Akure and Osogbo. While no official data has directly connected the slowdown to EFCC enforcement, the former senator insists the timing has raised eyebrows across the state more effectively than any comedy performance.
When Crime Pays the Bills, Everyone Receives the Receipt
Beyond the humour lies a more serious concern. Ojudu argued that the development exposes how dangerously dependent parts of the local economy had allegedly become on money circulating from suspected internet fraud activities. If legitimate businesses rise and fall based on the spending habits of individuals under criminal suspicion, he suggested, society should be asking much tougher questions than simply counting empty hotel rooms.
His warning extended beyond cybercrime itself. He expressed concern that glorifying unexplained wealth could encourage more young people to abandon education, entrepreneurship and legitimate careers in favour of illegal activities. He also warned about allegations surrounding increasingly dangerous criminal practices sometimes associated with so-called “Yahoo Plus,” stressing that a society celebrating criminal wealth today may struggle to produce ethical leadership tomorrow. Meanwhile, the EFCC has continued to state that its operations are aimed at protecting Nigeria’s economy, prosecuting financial crimes and discouraging corruption through lawful investigations and prosecutions.
As investigations, prosecutions and public debates continue, the conversation is shifting beyond empty hotels toward the bigger question of how communities can rebuild local economies without depending on proceeds from suspected criminal activity. OGM News NG will continue monitoring developments surrounding the EFCC’s operations, reactions from residents, businesses and government officials, and any further evidence regarding the economic impact in Ekiti State.
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