Monday, February 24, 2025 -The police have continued to detain a cryptocurrency entrepreneur, Obol Jesam Michael, despite the bail granted him by a law court.
A Federal Capital Territory high court presided by Justice M.A Madugu
had on February 18, 2025, granted bail to Jesam Michael, following a rights
enforcement suit filed by his lawyers.
The court granted the bail after the police failed to show cause why he
should not be released on bail.
Accordingly, the court which ordered his release forthwith, further
ordered the respondents – Nigeria Police Force, Inspector General of Police,
DCP Okezie Chikezie (Anti-Fraud Section, FCID), Ezekiel Okporanefe, Stella
Chinyere Onuigbo, Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and Interpol – to desist
from re-arresting and detaining Michael without recourse to the court.
However, although the order releasing Michael was accordingly served on
the Inspector General of Police and all police officers involved in the matter,
he is yet to be released.
Instead, the police allegedly moved Jesam Michael from their detention
facility in Maitama, where he had been kept for three weeks, to their facility
in the former SARS headquarters in Abuja, where he is still being kept despite
the order by the court that he should be released.
Michael’s lawyers allege that a highly placed police officer has refused
to release his case file, even though she has been directed to hands off the
matter.
Attempts to get the comments of the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, were not successful.
Michael was arrested over issues surrounding cryptocurrency and has
since been under police detention. However, he filed an action for the
enforcement of his fundamental rights.
In suit No. FCT/HC/CV/14/2024 and motion No. FCT/HC/8W/M/139/2025,
Justice M.A. Madugu of the FCT High Court ordered his release on February 18,
2025.
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