The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday apprehended Mr. Abubakar Sidiq Usman, a pro-government blogger, for offences bordering on cyber stalking.
The premier anti-graft agency arrested the suspect, who is the publisher of Abusidiqu.com, over a recent report he published against the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu.
Prominent for his strong pro-APC views, the controversial blogger was picked from his home in the Abuja suburb of Kubwa and was being quizzed by anti-graft agents.
Confirming the arrest, the EFCC spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the blogger was arrested for cyber stalking.
In a statement, Uwujaren said, “The 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.”
The statement was, however, silent on the specific sections of the Cyber Crime Act Mr. Usman breached.
Sidiq’s arrest sparked outcry and ‘chorus of disapproval’ from Nigerians on social media, with the #FreeAbusidiq and cyber stalking trending on Twitter for most of today.
https://twitter.com/Omojuwa/status/762715373766606848https://twitter.com/BlessinAbundant/status/762766896135540736https://twitter.com/Oriadday/status/762763760561954817https://twitter.com/MickeySunny/status/762756291232165892https://twitter.com/victor_mbidi/status/762663854778281984https://twitter.com/elnathan_john/status/762736737797955584https://twitter.com/ebirimobinna/status/762706496731742208
NB: Cyber stalking is defined as the repeated use of electronic communications to harass or frighten someone by sending threatening emails or spreading false messages online.
