The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested a blogger, Dikeocha Chukwuebuka, who published a picture of a crowded open cell in his Twitter handle @TheRealDayne, claiming that it is that of Port Harcourt office of the EFCC.
A statement by the EFCC’s acting Head of Media & Publicity, Tony Orilade, said the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of the Commission, Usman Imam announced the arrest while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
According to the statement, the suspect was picked up at about 4pm on Wednesday, February 26 in the premises of a new generation bank on Ada George Road in Port Harcourt.
He said the arrest was a fulfillment of the vow he made to track and apprehend the author of the malicious tweet.
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He recalled that the tweet was 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 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.
A remorseful Chukwuebuka, admitted his error in publishing the picture which he said belonged to another agency. He apologized to the EFCC and his followers for the false and misleading report.
