A Lagos-based digital marketer and sickle cell patient, Adebayo Aliu Oluwafemi, was arrested by plain-clothes police officers, detained for nine days, and flown from Lagos to Abuja over allegations of cyberstalking and cyberbullying linked to a complaint by Moniepoint Microfinance Bank even though he reportedly never personally posted any criticism of the bank online.
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The incident, first reported by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, has sparked widespread outrage over the use of police powers to suppress consumer criticism, the treatment of detained citizens, and the role of corporate entities in initiating criminal complaints against customers.
Moniepoint has denied orchestrating the arrest, but Oluwafemi’s lawyer and his roommate both told FIJ that the police confirmed the complaint originated from the microfinance bank.
According to Ojonugwa Matthew Audu, Oluwafemi’s roommate, three police officers in plain clothes arrived at their compound in Egbeda, Lagos, on the evening of February 18 in a Sienna vehicle — not a police van — and took Oluwafemi away on allegations of cybercrime.
The officers told Oluwafemi’s mother they were taking him to the Cybercrime Centre in Yaba and that the Investigating Police Officer would provide full details upon arrival. They did not disclose that the complaint had been filed by Moniepoint.
However, rather than proceeding to Yaba as promised, the officers diverted Oluwafemi to Festac Police Station. His mother, Audu, and a friend, who were already en route to Yaba, had to change course and arrived at Festac around 11 pm. It was only at this point that they learned Moniepoint was behind the complaint.
The following day, Oluwafemi was transferred to the Nigeria Police Cybercrime Centre in Yaba. When his lawyer questioned the legality of the arrest, officers at the station said they had no file of his arrest and had merely been asked to pick him up. All efforts to secure his release that day failed.
On the morning of February 20, despite having told the family that Moniepoint representatives would come to the Lagos station to address the case, the police unexpectedly flew Oluwafemi to Abuja, taking him to the Cybercrime Unit of the Force Criminal Investigation Department.
Audu said the family protested the sudden transfer, but the police refused to listen. The officers reportedly used a copy of Oluwafemi’s National Identification Number to book an Air Peace flight without the consent of his lawyer or the knowledge of his parents.
When Oluwafemi’s lawyer later travelled to the FCID in Abuja, police officers refused to allow him access to his client. Audu alleged that the police forced Oluwafemi to make a statement without seeing his lawyer, a claim that raises serious concerns about the protection of the rights of detained persons under Nigerian law.
The arrest stemmed from a backlash that erupted in January after Moniepoint informed customers of new 7.5 per cent VAT charges on certain banking services, including electronic banking charges, POS transaction fees, mobile banking fees, USSD transaction fees, POS activation fees, card issuance fees, and Moniebook subscriptions.
The announcement triggered widespread criticism from customers across the country. According to Audu, Oluwafemi, who is a Moniepoint customer and a registered digital marketer, complained about the charges but did not personally tweet about them.
However, friends close to Oluwafemi — identified as Alabi Hannah and Ogunyinde Emmanuel — posted tweets criticising the bank’s VAT policy. Audu said Oluwafemi had informed them that the charges were not in line with what the Nigeria Revenue Service stipulated regarding VAT on bank transactions, and the friends subsequently tweeted their dissatisfaction.
Hannah and Emmanuel were reportedly arrested first by the police. After their arrest, they allegedly mentioned Oluwafemi’s name as the person who told them about the issues with Moniepoint’s VAT charges. The police then targeted Oluwafemi, treating him as the primary suspect who allegedly instigated the online criticism.
Oluwafemi was detained for nine days before he was eventually released. His lawyer, Saheed Arigbede Esq., confirmed to FIJ that the complaint against his client was filed by Moniepoint Microfinance Bank on grounds of cyberstalking and cyberbullying.
Arigbede disclosed that the family spent close to N500,000 in the process of securing his release, noting that the payments were made in cash at various points during the process.
Even after his release, Oluwafemi’s two mobile phones remain confiscated by the police, who claim they are conducting forensic analysis on the devices.
In a statement issued on Friday, Moniepoint denied claims that it orchestrated the arrest or detention of any customer for criticising its services.
“Moniepoint did not arrest, detain, or request the arrest of any individual for expressing opinions or criticism about our services, tax policy, or any public issue,” the bank stated.
The bank said the reports appeared to relate to an ongoing investigation being conducted independently by the Nigeria Police Force concerning suspected cybercrime activities, adding that the authorities acted within the scope of their investigation, which it described as unrelated to criticism of Moniepoint or commentary on tax matters.
The bank said it respects the right of Nigerians to raise concerns and participate in public discussions about financial services.
However, when FIJ asked the bank to explain what its representatives were doing at the FCID Abuja if it had not initiated the arrest, and pointed out that both Oluwafemi’s roommate and lawyer confirmed the police had said the complaint came from Moniepoint, the bank had not responded as of press time.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, also did not respond to calls or a WhatsApp message sent by FIJ seeking comment on the matter.
The incident raises serious concerns about the use of cybercrime laws to suppress legitimate consumer criticism, the treatment of detained persons including denial of access to legal counsel, the role of corporate entities in weaponizing the criminal justice system against customers, and the practice of flying suspects across states without the knowledge or consent of their lawyers and families.
Oluwafemi, as a Moniepoint customer, had every right to express dissatisfaction with the bank’s services, his roommate argued, adding that the nine-day detention and the continued confiscation of his phones amount to a violation of his fundamental rights.
This report is based on an investigation by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ).
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