A Nigerian cryptocurrency trader, Salaudeen Ayobamidele, has made headlines after coming forward with shocking allegations against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In a candid interview with News Central TV, Ayobamidele claimed that he was unlawfully detained and extorted by EFCC officials—even after he presented evidence that should have cleared him.
Crypto Trader’s Ordeal With the EFCC
According to Ayobamidele, his nightmare began when he was arrested over a cryptocurrency transaction that the EFCC allegedly suspected to be fraudulent. However, he maintains that the deal was entirely legitimate and that he provided all the necessary documentation and digital records to back up his claim.
“I sold Bitcoin to a client, and the person received the crypto. I had every proof to show that it was a clean transaction,” Ayobamidele explained. “Yet, I was locked up for nine days. They told my brother that if I didn’t pay ₦2.9 million, I would not be released.”
To make matters worse, Ayobamidele revealed that the commission later demanded an additional ₦3.5 million, despite already having been paid under what he described as “duress.” These claims, if true, point to a disturbing pattern of abuse and extortion within one of Nigeria’s most powerful anti-corruption bodies.
Nigerians React: “This Is Another SARS Situation”
The public reaction to Ayobamidele’s story has been swift and intense. Many Nigerians took to social media to express their outrage, comparing the EFCC’s alleged misconduct to that of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a police unit infamous for unlawful arrests, harassment, and extortion.
“This is not just about cryptocurrency anymore,” one Twitter user wrote. “This is about systemic abuse of power. EFCC is starting to feel like SARS all over again.”
Others have called for immediate investigations and widespread reform within the EFCC, urging the Nigerian government to take human rights violations more seriously—especially when they involve agencies tasked with upholding the law.
Pattern of Abuse? Not the First Time
This incident isn’t isolated. In another recent case, Sani Dauda testified that EFCC agents forced him to hand over $25,000, despite the funds already being returned to him in a prior bribery case. Such reports have raised concerns about a recurring pattern of intimidation, unlawful detention, and financial extortion by EFCC officials.
Legal experts and civil society groups are now demanding accountability. Some are pushing for an independent probe into Ayobamidele’s case and others like it, warning that without intervention, public trust in the EFCC will continue to erode.
EFCC Yet to Respond
As of the time of writing, the EFCC has not released an official statement addressing Ayobamidele’s allegations. The silence from the agency has only fueled more suspicion and criticism.
Several human rights organizations, including Amnesty International Nigeria, are reportedly monitoring the situation and may take further steps to demand justice and transparency.
Call for Reform: Nigeria’s Anti-Corruption War at a Crossroads
The EFCC was established to combat economic and financial crimes, including fraud and money laundering. However, cases like Ayobamidele’s are casting a dark shadow over the agency’s reputation. Many Nigerians now believe that the EFCC itself needs oversight, regulation, and reform.
“Nobody is above the law,” Ayobamidele stated. “Not even those who are supposed to enforce it.”
If Nigeria is to maintain credibility in its anti-corruption campaign, incidents of alleged abuse and extortion must be thoroughly investigated, and the perpetrators—regardless of rank—held accountable.
Conclusion
The disturbing allegations brought against the EFCC by Salaudeen Ayobamidele are a stark reminder of the potential for abuse when institutions operate without sufficient checks and balances. As pressure mounts for reform, Nigerians wait to see whether justice will prevail—or if this will become just another forgotten case in a long list of unaddressed grievances.