EFCC arrests man for sharing ‘fake’ pictures of its cell

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested one Dikeocha Chukwuebuka for allegedly sharing fake pictures of its cell in Port Harcourt, River state.

In a statement on Thursday, Tony Orilade, spokesman of the anti-graft agency, said Chukwuebuka was picked up on Wednesday evening.

The suspect had tweeted the pictures of a crowded cell — which he has now deleted, and tagged it the commission’s facility in Port Harcourt.

He had also said the detainees captured in the picture — all bare-chested — were not kept in any shelter all day and night.

Additional Information….
I was made to know that this is an Everyday thing, that @officialEFCC zonal office in PH keeps this people here, under the rain and sun, Night and Day, they do not have internal detention centre, where they can keep them when the weather is unfavorable.

— DAYN£♥️ (@TheRealDayne) February 10, 2020

The pictures had infuriated many Nigerians who accused the EFCC of abusing the rights of the those held in its facilities.

What is this madness?! Why is @officialEFCC worsening human right abuses in Nigeria?! #EndImpunity @PoliceNG @hrw @USEmbassyAbuja @UKinNigeria @CanHCNigeria @FranceAbuja @GERinNigeria @DKambNigeria @HouseNGR https://t.co/2sd3qVjVkG

— SEGA L'éveilleur® (@segalink) February 10, 2020

The anti-graft agency, however, denied the accusation, and vowed to arrest the Twitter user.

EFCC Vows to Arrest Promoter of Fake "EFCC Cell" Report

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has vowed to apprehend the promoter of a report in the social media, claiming its Port Harcourt holding facility is overcrowded and alleging mistreatment of detainees.
1/ pic.twitter.com/179BVxZrLU

— EFCC Nigeria (@officialEFCC) February 12, 2020

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Orilade quoted Usman Imam, head of the EFCC zonal office, as telling journalists the arrest was a fulfillment of the commission’s vow to “track and apprehend the author of the malicious tweet.”

Imam described Chukwuebuka’s tweet as a “most embarrassing moment for the Commission, given that the ‘fake news’, represented the very opposite of what the EFCC stands for, as far as care of detainees is concerned.”

“I want to assure the suspect and indeed the media, that the Commission will follow through this investigation and ensure that justice is served in accordance with the law,” he said.

Imam also warned social media influencers to be “circumspect in using information which they have not checked to save the society from the ordeal of fake news.”