The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has begun an investigation into an allegation made by Nigerian rapper, Oladipupo Oladimeji, popularly known as Oladips, who claimed that some of the agency?s operatives extorted ?10 million from him during his detention in 2024.

Oladips, in a recent interview on the Trending podcast, recounted that he was arrested alongside some residents of his estate in Lagos during an EFCC midnight raid in November 2024.

The rapper said he spent five days in custody and was later released after allegedly paying ?10 million to the operatives despite no incriminating evidence being found against him.

?They collected money (?10 million) from me before they released me. They didn?t find anything on me. So, what was the money for? What was all that stress and suffering for? It?s just Nigeria. Nigeria just happened to me,? he lamented during the interview.

Reacting to the allegation, the EFCC, in a statement released via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, said it viewed the claim with ?great seriousness? and had commenced a formal inquiry.

The statement read, ?The Commission wishes to state unreservedly that the grim picture painted by the artist does not reflect the true character of the EFCC.

?We have seen his claims and have commenced investigations accordingly. Officers in the team that handled his case have been summoned to the Corporate Headquarters of the Commission and relieved of their operational duties pending the conclusion of investigations.?

The EFCC reiterated its commitment to integrity and accountability, pledging to take ?necessary action against any staff found culpable.?

The commission, however, warned that if the rapper?s claims were proven false and intended to malign the agency, appropriate sanctions would also follow.

?The Commission is serious about its value of integrity and will take necessary action against any staff found to be culpable. It is also needful to state that if the allegation is found to be false and raised to malign the Commission or tarnish its image, appropriate sanctions will also be imposed.

?The Commission enjoins the public to await the result of its investigations and continue to keep faith with it in its conscientious task of tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption,? it added. (PUNCH)

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