Crime Watch
EFCC Launches Probe Into Oladips’ ₦10m Extortion Claim
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into allegations made by Nigerian rapper Oladipupo Oladimeji, popularly known as Oladips, who claimed that some operatives of the agency extorted ₦10 million from him during his detention in 2024.
Oladips made the revelation during a recent interview on the Trending Podcast, where he narrated how he was arrested alongside residents of his estate in Lagos during an EFCC midnight raid in November 2024.
The rapper alleged that he spent five days in custody and was eventually released only 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,” Oladips lamented during the interview.
Reacting to the allegation, the EFCC, in a statement posted via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, said it viewed the claims with “great seriousness” and had commenced a formal inquiry.
The statement read:
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, views with great seriousness the allegation of extortion made against some of its operatives by a Nigerian rapper, Oladipupo Olabode Oladimeji (a.k.a Oladips).
The hip-hop artist gravely alleged that operatives of the Commission extorted a sum of N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) from him before securing his release when he was arrested alongside other suspected internet fraudsters.
The Commission wishes to state unreservedly that the grim picture painted by the artist does not reflect the true picture of the EFCC. We have seen his claims and have commenced investigations on them accordingly.
Officers in the Team that handled his case have been summoned to the Corporate Headquarters of the Commission and have also been relieved of their operational duties pending the conclusion of investigation of the matter.
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.”
