Outrage greets blogger’s arrest by EFCC
We learnt that Sidiq was arrested over a story critical of EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu.
The EFCC team was led by Sambo Mayana. EFCC declined to grant Sidiq access to his lawyer and wife.
The article titled “EFCC Boss, Magu Commences Total War With Core EFCC Staff” ran on his website.
Several commentators social media said it was a sign that Buhari was enthroning dictatorship in the country. They urged Nigerians to be alert to the growing penchant for government to clamp down on its critics.
Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, who confirmed the blogger’s arrest wondered why a hashtag ‘FreeAbuSidiq,’ was launched on Twitter.
“Why #freeAbuSidiq? Get it clear. Mr. Abu Sidiq was not arrested by the EFCC. He was only invited to answer some questions. He will be with us soon,” Ahmad stated.
Meanwhile, EFCC spokesman, Wilson Usujiaren, said the blogger had been granted administrative bail.
In a statement, he said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC today 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.”
