The calm of Duke and Duchess Hotel in Abule Egba, Lagos, was shattered on Friday, August 1, 2025, when, according to hotel owner and Creative Industry Group President Felix Duke, eight armed men stormed the premises in an unmarked bus.

Duke, a veteran Nigerian musician, told journalists on Saturday that the men claimed to be operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) but failed to present a valid court warrant. He alleged that the team disrupted business, damaged property, and carted away €5,000 from his private room.

The alleged confrontation escalated when the men reportedly tried to arrest his wife, Lady Capriz, an American citizen, in his absence. “She refused to go with them unless they produced a valid court warrant, which they could not,” Duke claimed.

According to him, the incident stems from a bitter land dispute between himself and a retired soldier. He believes the soldier is using the EFCC to settle personal scores. Duke has since filed a lawsuit against the EFCC and the petitioner, demanding an apology and ₦50 million in damages for alleged violation of his fundamental rights.

However, the EFCC has strongly denied any involvement. Spokesperson Dele Oyewale told PUNCH Online that “no such operation took place” in Abule Egba. He insisted that the only recent EFCC arrest in Lagos happened on Wednesday at Chevron, Lagos Island, and urged Duke to “redirect his energy and insinuations to other quarters.”

Opinion:
If Duke’s claims are true, this raises serious concerns about the misuse of law enforcement identities to intimidate citizens. In a country already struggling with trust in public institutions, alleged impersonations of security agencies only deepen the fear and suspicion between the public and those meant to protect them.

But there’s also the flip side — false accusations against law enforcement can be equally damaging, eroding public trust and distracting from genuine anti-corruption work.

One thing is clear: this is not just about a hotel raid — it’s about accountability, transparency, and the integrity of Nigeria’s justice system. Whether the culprits were rogue actors or another agency entirely, Nigerians deserve answers. Because in the end, trust, once broken, is far harder to recover than €5,000.