Man Recounts How EFCC Operatives Wrongly Labelled Him A Fraudster, Arrested And Detained Him For Three Days In Ogun
A young man named Adediran Rotimi, has accused some operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of wrongfully labelling him an internet fraudster, arresting and detaining him for three days.
On October 14, EFCC announced on its Twitter page that it arrested nine suspected Internet fraudsters in Abeokuta, Ogun State, sharing their photos and items recovered.
EFCC Arrests Nine Suspected Internet Criminals in Abeokuta
The Ibadan Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, October 14, 2020, arrested nine men, suspected to be internet fraudsters in Abeokuta, Ogun State. pic.twitter.com/AsVjLmkwxt
— EFCC Nigeria (@officialEFCC) October 14, 2020
Narrating his ordeal on Twitter via his handle @Rotimi_4G, the young man said he was among those arrested that day.
He said despite committing no offense, the EFCC operatives paraded him alongside other suspected internet fraudsters.
Rotimi noted that some operatives of the anti-graft agency broke into his apartment at 4am, saying their manner of entry got him scared as he thought they were robbers.
He stated that he however felt calm after he identified them as EFCC operatives with their labelled uniform and because he is not guilty of any crime.
Rotimi said;
Here is the beginning of my nightmares.
EFCC broke into my apartment around 4am on this day and arrested me at gunpoint at first I thought they were arm robber because of their mode of operations but after seeing their jacket I was calm since I don’t have anything incriminating https://t.co/PTOGJm54BU— Rotimi (@Rotimi_4G) November 9, 2020
…on me, but little did I know that I am automatically a suspect for owning laptop and smart phones.
They collected one Android phone, one iPhone and one small itel phone, I was still very calm because I am not into cyber crime but my story changed when I got to their office— Rotimi (@Rotimi_4G) November 9, 2020
Rotimi expressed that when he was taken to their office in Ibadan, Oyo state, alongside other suspects and their photos were taken without any investigation.
At Ibadan, without investigation they took my pictures alongside with others and uploaded it online💔, my heart was broken because my image has been ruined because I own laptop and smart phones.
— Rotimi (@Rotimi_4G) November 9, 2020
The Twitter user expressed that he was however detained, with his mobile phones and laptop seized.
Rotimi accused EFCC of refusing to release him even after finding nothing incriminating on his laptop and phone, following a search which lasted for 4 hours.
Later I was handed over to I.O (investigation Officer ) three people search my phones and Laptop for over four hours they even took it to their ICT but nothing incriminating was found. I thought I will be released that day since nothing was found on me untill they gave me
— Rotimi (@Rotimi_4G) November 9, 2020
He said the anti-graft agency gave him a bail condition he couldn’t meet – one lawyer, two surety with houses property in ibadan and must be a tax payer for at least 2 years.
Rotimi added that his predicament worsened when a lawyer demanded N200,000 to defend his case.
Bail condition I couldn’t meet up ( one lawyer, two surety with houses property in ibadan and must be a tax payer for at least 2 years 💔) to make matter lawyer wanted to collect 200k for offense I know nothing about.
— Rotimi (@Rotimi_4G) November 9, 2020
The Twitter user said due to his inability to meet bail condition, he was detained in the cell for two days, where he had unspeakable experience.
I was in the cell for two days and I had unspeakable experience in that cell only God will deliver me from the mental disturbance and emotional disorder, I keep asking myself what did I do wrong? No evidence in me but yet detained.
— Rotimi (@Rotimi_4G) November 9, 2020
Rotimi revealed that he finally able to meet the bail condition on the third day but on getting home, he found out that robbers carted away his home appliances following his arrest.
Finally I meet up with bail condition on the third day and I was released only for me to get home and find out that my apartment was robbed again after EFCC broke into it and left it opened, my plasma tv gone, every good appliances in that room was stolen including foodstuffs.
— Rotimi (@Rotimi_4G) November 9, 2020
He added that his device is still with the EFCC operatives as he was told that it was withheld due to ongoing investigation.
Before I forget my device is still with them because they are still doing their investigation on it💔, I thought EFCC do their research before carrying out arrest, I thought there is Justice and human right in this country, now I am back to square one thanks to EFCC.
— Rotimi (@Rotimi_4G) November 9, 2020
