Flamboyant lifestyle: EFCC may go after Nigerian music stars

Fear appears to be gripping some of Nigeria’s music stars who are flamboyant in their lifestyles as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)  and other agencies are said to have launched a discreet investigation into their spendings.

Investigation by R on Friday revealed that the anti-graft commission had concluded plans to narrow its investigation down to some of music stars whose “flamboyant lifestyles are questionable”.

It was gathered that while Naira Marley’s case with the commission was still pending following its adjournment till October this year, some operatives of the anti-graft agency had begun an undercover investigation into the affairs of some popular music stars and those who were said to be hiding under the guise of being  musicians to perpetrate what was known in common parlance as Yahoo Yahoo.

• How Malaika settled Pasuma, Osupa’s feud

A popular hip hop musician, who spoke with R on condition of anonymity, disclosed that he was aware that the anti-graft agency had started beaming its searchlight on the activities of some musicians.

Further findings by R revealed that some artistes were already aware of the planned move by EFCC to monitor their spending and earnings, but they were said to be unbothered.

A number of them insisted that no threat from the agency could stop them from living their lives the way they could as they maintained that they work genuinely for their earnings.

One of them who spoke with R said he was yet to see such moves but he would not rule it out.

“Let me make it abundantly clear that if it is true they are planning to embark on such futile and senseless exercise, they would be disappointed. No one is saying they should not do their job, but they should leave musicians alone. They should let us concentrate on our work,” he said.

It will be recalled that despite his pending case with the anti-graft agency, Marley has shifted his focus on his career since he was released from custody and has released another track to share his experience in prison custody.

Marley, R learnt, is currently out of the country to rest and get over his ordeal in the hands of the agency.

However, acting spokesperson of the EFCC, Mr Tony Orilade, said the commission was not harassing Nigerian musicians or any individual. He said whoever breaches the section 7(1b) of the EFCC establishment act 2004 will be a guest of the commission.

“The commission is not out to harass anyone or organisation. We are guided by the law and we operate within the ambit of these laws, so anybody that says we are witch-hunting them is not being truthful.”

He added that Section 7 (1b) of the EFCC establishment act 2004 gives it the power to cause investigation to be conducted into the properties of any person if it appears to the commission that the person’s lifestyle and extent of properties are not justified by his source of income.