I committed no crime, Instagram comedian Pankeeroy says after 5 weeks in EFCC custody

Nwagbo Oliver Chidera, an Instagram comedian better known as Pankeeroy, has been released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) — five weeks after his arrest.

The anti-graft agency had arrested the entertainer alongside 34 others in April for alleged internet fraud, citing an intelligence report.

In a statement on Friday, Tope Salami, his lawyer, said the comedian was arrested without any form of petition against him.

“It is worthy to state that there was no form of petition against our client and as such, implied that no crime in whatever form was perpetrated against any person(s), company, or establishment by our client,” it read.

Salami said Pankeeroy was released by the EFCC after it was discovered that there was no link between him and the alleged crime under investigation.

“It is worthy to state that the arrest was based on discreet information that our client was an enthusiast of digital currency solely in the year 2020…which in no doubt is the future of economic transactions,” the statement added.

“Upon questioning and facts finding by officers of the commission, our client was released as there was no form of nexus linking him to the purported commission of the investigated crime.

“The positions of the federal government and its agencies are clear on digital currency and as such hampers various levels of growth and development in the economic and digital space.

“However, this call to notice is necessary to clear the air and further repose the long term confidence of fans, friends, family members, and business associates of our client that on no occasion was our client indicted of any crime/offense and as such, the arrest was a product of job hazard.”

Salami added that the comedian will take legal action against those who sponsored “defamatory notes and statements” during his arrest.