Press Release Apc Youths To Efcc: You Have No Right To Arrest Blogge

PRESS RELEASE
APC YOUTHS TO EFCC: YOU HAVE NO RIGHT
TO ARREST BLOGGER
The All Progressives Congress Youth Forum
(APYF), on Monday (August 8th, 2016) night
accused the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) of abusing its powers under
the law by sending its operatives to pick up one
of the Forum’s founding members, Mr. Abubakar
“Abusidiq” Sidiq Usman, on charges of
cyberstalking.
A statement released by the EFCC earlier on
Monday claimed that Abusidiq was arrested and
questioned on offences that allegedly contravene
the Cyber Crime Act.
In a statement signed by Olu Onemola, the 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 APYF further stated that it would be utilising
all the protections and legal recourses that are
available to citizens in the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We will be petitioning the Attorney General of
the Federation to call the EFCC and its Chairman
to order,” the APYF said, “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.
Read the Full Statement Below:
CALLING THE EFCC TO ORDER: STATEMENT BY
THE APYF ON THE ARREST OF ABUSIDIQ
On Monday, August 8th, 2016, one of the
founding members of the All Progressives
Congress Youth Forum (APYF), Mr. Abubakar
Sidiq Usman (Abusidiq), the founder and owner
of the blog abusidiqu.com was picked up from
his home by armed operatives of the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),
purportedly under the orders of the Acting
Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu.
A statement released by the Commission claims
that Abusidiq was arrested and questioned on
offences that allegedly contravene the Cyber
Crime Act.
The APYF wishes to condemn in the strongest
possible terms the arrest and filing of spurious
charges against Abusidiq, by an agency that has
obviously overstepped its jurisdiction and crossed
beyond the purview of its responsibilities which
are to combat financial and economic crimes.
From the EFCC establishment act, “The
Commission is empowered to prevent,
investigate, prosecute and penalise economic
and financial crimes and is charged with the
responsibility of enforcing the provisions of other
laws and regulations relating to economic and
financial crimes.”
From the aforementioned, the APYF wishes to
state in the clearest possible terms that the
EFCC lacks the powers to put forward such
charges against Abusidiq on the grounds of
cyberstalking as it is not within their mandate to
do so.
As an organisation that believes firmly in the rule
of law, moving forward the APYF will be utilising
all the protections and legal recourses that are
available to citizens in the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
1. We will be petitioning the Attorney General of
the Federation to call the EFCC and its Chairman
to order - as these allegations if left unchecked
can dent the institutional credibility of the
Commission in particular, and the perception of
the adherence to the rule of law of the entire
government.
2. We will 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 in the
fight against corruption, and to raise questions
on the suitability of the Acting Chairman to serve
in a confirmed capacity.
3. We will 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.
In this regard, the APYF calls for the immediate
and unconditional release of Abusidiq, and
wishes to reiterate our commitment to seeing
this government fulfil its mandate to fight
corruption and impunity. Hence, we intend to do
so by holding the government accountable for all
its actions. Now, and always.
Signed:
Olu Wole Onemola
APYF National Public Relations Officer
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