The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has threatened to penalise skit makers and social workers who project the commission as a bullying agency.

Dele Oyewale, the agency’s head of media and publicity, stated on Wednesday that skit makers were deliberately casting shadows on the image of the EFCC with some of their contents.

Oyewale said the warning was imperative due to a trending video on the internet called ‘EFCC and Army Wahala’, which portrays the agency in a shameful manner.

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“A video, code-named: “EFCC and Army Wahala”, gaining traction across the social media once again compels EFCC to reiterate its warning to skit makers and other social workers to desist from using the operational identities of the Commission illegally and irresponsibly,” he said.

“The video is a caricature of the operational etiquette of the EFCC. The shameful characterization of supposed operatives of the Commission in the video unleashing terror on “suspects” is not only embarrassing but indicative of a deliberate attempt to cast shadows on the image of the EFCC.”

The media and publicity head maintained that officers of the agency are well trained and conduct their business professionally.

“Operatives of the EFCC are not bullies. They are trained as refined modern law enforcement officers rich in decency, civility and respect for members of the public, including suspects of economic and financial crimes,” he said.

“Skit makers are warned again to desist from unauthorized use of the identities of the EFCC to ply their trade. The Commission will not hesitate to bring to book anyone caught displaying its operational identities for any engagement.”

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FIJ found instances where officials of the anti-graft agency deployed unlawful means to arrest suspects and carry out their businesses.

On November 1, FIJ reported how over 60 students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) were arrested by the agency in the middle of the night based on suspicions of internet fraud.

Similarly, on October 1, 2022, FIJ reported that EFCC officials broke illegally into the apartment of one Precious Ikedi, a mass communication student of Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic.

The officials did not only gain access to her hostel through the roof but also stole some of her valuables.