TheCable

Adediran Rotimi, a young entrepreneur, says operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested him because he was found with a laptop and smartphones.

Rotimi runs a cyber café business in Ogun state near the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

On October 14, the graphic designer was arrested alongside eight other people by some EFCC operatives.

The suspects, whose ages range between 21 and 31 are: Tobi Idowu; Gbeminiyi Samuel; Adekunle Gafar; Wusu Taiwo; Agbabaidan Idris; Olaiya Olamide; Adediran Rotimi; Ikegbuka Junior and Ridwan Garuba.

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— EFCC Nigeria (@officialEFCC) October 14, 2020

Speaking with TheCable on Tuesday, Rotimi said the operatives arrested him after they had “broken” into some houses in the compound he resides in.

According to him, while he was being conveyed to an office of the anti-graft agency, other people were picked up on the streets by the EFCC officials.

“On that particular day, I was in my room sleeping. It was about past 4am in the morning on the 14th of October, 2020, when I heard people jumping the fence into our compound,” Rotimi said.

“I didn’t want to open the door for them because my door will be the next place they would come to. They broke into the first room, forced their way in. There were only ladies there; one guy was there with them and they picked him up. They broke into the other rooms and even entered the ceiling. At gunpoint, they were arresting people.

“They broke my room last. Before I could open the door for them, they broke it. I saw the jacket on them and saw that they were from EFCC and I was like ‘Okay, fine. They are law enforcement and I don’t have anything incriminating on me.’

“They said I should lie down and they asked for my laptop and phone. I provided my laptop and three phones — one iPhone, one android phone, and one small Nokia phone. Once I gave them the laptop and phone, they said ‘stand up, let’s go.’

“Their mode of operation is not different from SARS. They were actually raiding people on the streets. One particular guy was actually going on the road and because he had a smartphone, he was slapped and asked to enter their bus.”

Rotimi said on getting to the EFCC office, their pictures were taken before any form of investigation began.

“They handed me over to an investigative officer and they started checking my phone and laptop. They collected all my passwords to emails, phones. They even printed my bank account statements. They were searching for almost five hours. After they found nothing on it, they took my gadgets to their ICT,” he said.

“The ICT man did not see anything on it and I was returned to the investigative officer, I was thinking that I would be allowed to go but a ‘suspect’ file was opened for me and I was asked to write a statement.

“I wrote the statement and they gave me a bail condition. The conditions were outrageous. I have to get a lawyer with two sureties; the two sureties must have landed property in Ibadan and must be taxpayers. That day, I couldn’t do anything. They kept me in their cell for more than 48 hours. I was able to meet up with the bail on Friday.”

‘NO MORE MEANS OF LIVELIHOOD’

A traumatised Rotimi said he has not been able to work because his gadgets are still at the EFCC office.

The entrepreneur said when he went to request for his laptop and phones, he was still questioned on being a fraudster.

“They keep asking me to come back and sign papers. On Friday, one of the officers asked if I’m into cybercrime. I said ‘no, that I’m into business.’ He asked if my business is registered. I told him that my business name is registered and it is reserved under CAC, but my company isn’t registered. He said it is a criminal offence and I could be arrested for that,” he said.

“I can’t work because my gadgets are still with them. I help students type their projects. Now, they can’t access their work.

“My people rallied around to pay the bail. What prompted my story is because they are holding onto my devices. They keep asking me to come back and sign papers. On Friday, one of the officers asked if I’m into cybercrime. I said ‘no, that I’m into business.’ He asked if my business is registered, I told him that my business name is registered and it is reserved under CAC but my company isn’t registered. He said it is a criminal offence and I could be arrested for that.

“I can’t work because my gadgets are still with them. I help students type their projects, now they can’t access their work. My people rallied around to pay the bail.”

Tony Orilade, EFCC spokesman, is yet to comment on the incident.

Rotimi’s story comes weeks after Nigerians took to the streets to demonstrate against police harassment and brutality.

For 12 days in October, youth across the country held protests to call for reform of the Nigeria police force under the #EndSARS campaign.