The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a TikTok user, Udoma David Ekeh, for allegedly spreading false information about the agency and its operations.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said in a statement on Wednesday that the suspect circulated claims in December 2025 alleging that operatives of the commission’s Ilorin Zonal Directorate were kidnapped by bandits and that a ransom was demanded for their release.
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“All his claims are fabricated, together with the use of his TikTok account to incite and misinform the public about the Commission’s relentless efforts in tackling the menace of internet fraud,” Mr Oyewale said.
The commission said the claims gained traction on social media at the time, raising concerns about the safety of its personnel and the credibility of information circulating online.
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The EFCC maintained that no such incident occurred and described the report as entirely false.
According to the statement, preliminary investigations have linked Mr Ekeh to alleged internet fraud activities.
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The commission said he used a Facebook account to impersonate a foreign national identified as “Garg Carta” in what it described as a romance scam.
The EFCC added that the suspect would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The arrest comes amid growing concerns over the spread of false information on social media platforms, particularly claims involving security agencies, which authorities say can undermine public trust and create unnecessary panic.
Meanwhile, human rights lawyers and advocates have often criticised the EFCC for publicly sharing mugshots that clearly display suspects’ faces.
Critics argue that this practice violates the constitutional right of such suspects to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Also, they have voiced concerns that the release of these images showing the faces of the suspects holding booking slates reflects entrenched class discrimination. The EFCC often exempts high-profile suspects, such as influential politicians, from this treatment. High-profile individuals rarely have their mugshots shared publicly, as often done for ordinary suspects.”
