APC youths blasts EFCC for arresting blogger, Abubakar Sidiq Usman

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested popular blogger, Mr. Abubakar Sidiq Usman, who owns Abusidiqu.com, over a recent report he published against the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

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Reports said he was arrested by the EFCC operatives early on Monday morning.

EFCC spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the arrest saying that the blogger was arrested for cyber stalking.

Uwujaren said: “The EFCC today (Monday) arrested Mr. Abubakar Sidiq Usman, a blogger, for offences bordering on cyber stalking. The suspect, who is the publisher of Abusidiqu.com, was picked up at his Kubwa, Abuja, home in the early hours of Monday August 8, 2016, by operatives of the EFCC and is currently being questioned over the alleged offence which contravenes sections of the Cyber Crime Act.

“The suspect has already been offered administrative bail and would be released to his elected sureties.”

Cyber stalking is defined as the repeated use of electronic communications to harass or frighten someone by sending threatening emails or spreading false messages online.

On August 2, 2016, Usman’s blog, published a report titled, ‘EFCC boss, Magu, commences total war with core EFCC staff’ on August 2, 2016.

The report stated that members of staff at the EFCC were complaining that they were being bullied by Magu. The report added that there were allegations that Magu and the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, both from Borno State, had been diverting government funds for personal use.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress Youth Forum (APYF), has accused the EFCC of abusing its powers under the law by sending its operatives to arrest Usman.

In a statement signed by Olu Onemola, the National Public Relations Officer of the Forum, the APYF condemned the filing of spurious charges against Abusidiq, stating that if the EFCC’s actions was left unchecked, it could dent the institutional credibility of the financial watchdog and the perception of the adherence to the rule of law of the entire President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government.

The statement said:

“We will be petitioning the Attorney General of the Federation to call the EFCC and its Chairman to order. We will [also] be filing a petition with the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges to express our unease on the abuse of institutional powers by one of Nigeria’s leading institutions.”

The APYF also stated that it would be filing a freedom of speech fundamental rights enforcement under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against the EFCC and its Acting Chairman — on whose orders the armed operatives acted.

The Forum further called for the immediate and unconditional release of Abusidiq, stating that it intended to see the government fulfil its mandate to fight corruption and impunity, hence, it would be holding the government accountable for all its actions.