Connect with us

Featured

Dino Melaye: The Police Lied Between Their Teeth – Ozekhome

Published

on

A PRESS RELEASE BY MIKE OZEKHOME’S CHAMBERS

Our attention has just been drawn to a trending television video in, which the AIG (Legal) of the Nigeria Police, Mr David Igbodo, trivialized his ignoble dehumanization of Senator Melaye, using his privileged official position. He referred to Dino’s ordeal as “Nigeria Movie Part 2”

Distinguished Senator Dino Melaye, has, for quite some time, been receiving fusillades of politically motivated attacks, on his life, political career and health. His offence, that has attracted these attacks upon his person, is that he is exposing and speaking out against the anti-people policies of both the federal government under President Buhari, and the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, who governs his state.

On Friday, the 28th of December, 2018, a team of plain-clothed Policemen, had stormed Senator Dino Melaye’s house at No 11 Sangha Street, Maitama, Abuja, and barricaded the entire street before eventually forcefully gaining entry into his compound. The said plain-clothed Policemen proceeded to beat up Melaye’s security whom they immediately handcuffed. They also arrested the cook and other domestic staff in Senator Dino’s residence. They chased away all family members from Dino’s house.
The Nigeria Police, led by the Commissioner of Police, FCT, proceeded to disconnect electricity and gas supply to the premises of Senator Dino Melaye, thereby putting his life and health in grave danger. They also disconnected water supply to his home thus denying him access to water. Senator Dino Melaye’s dependants were without water and food, for over seven days, as the said Policemen blocked his gate, denying family members and his friends, access to his house. Senator Dino Melaye is a known asthmatic person.
The Nigeria Police through, AIG David Igbodo, granted a press conference wherein he falsely and defamatorily described their intimidation and humiliation of Senator Dino Melaye, as “Nigerian movie part 2”. This statement by the Nigeria Police is aimed at creating bias in the mind of the Nigerian public and indeed the judiciary, which will eventually be saddled with the responsibility of determining the trumped-up charges against distinguished Senator Dino Melaye. It is given this, that we, as Melaye’s lawyers, have deemed it expedient to put the records straight before the Nigerian public, lest Mr Igbodo’s ungodly tissue of lies are donned with the garb of truth.
It would be recalled that Senator Dino Melaye, had on the 24th of December, 2018, cried out to the world, that he had received credible information that there was a grand plan by the Police, sponsored by Yahaya Bello, the Governor of Kogi State, to arrest him and inject him with lethal substances to terminate his life. It would also be recalled that Senator Dino Melaye, who has since parted ways with his earlier party, the ruling APC, has been quite vociferous in the condemnation of the poor performance of the federal government and his state government under Yahaya Bello. Consequent upon this, he has received politically motivated attacks on his life and political career by his political enemies, using the instrumentality of a willing Nigeria Police Force and their operatives.
Members of the public would also recall how Senator Dino Melaye had personally narrated his ordeal on Thursday, the 19th day of July, 2018, to the effect that whilst he was returning to his hometown, around Iya junction, Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu LGA, Kogi State, in a convoy of over twenty vehicles, after the commissioning of his constituency projects, in Kogi West Senatorial District, he was attacked by armed Policemen and his vehicle shot at sporadically, by the armed Policemen who attacked him. A petition was immediately written to the IGP, intimating him of the premeditated violent attack on Melaye. Till date, we have not received any response to the said petition, and the Nigeria Police is now incredulously on the verge of preparing a charge against Senator Dino Melaye in respect of an alleged attack on his life, by Police officers, claiming that Melaye’s security (not Melaye himself), shot and wounded a Police officer.
Senator Melaye had also informed the general public, that recently, on the 12th of October 2018, the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State, sent armed Policemen who invaded his country home in Kogi State, looking for him. He believes the invasion was targeted at assassinating him, over his opposing political views. It was only when the villagers raised the alarm that the said armed Policemen, fled. Senator Dino Melaye then petitioned the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and copied the said petition to several International Organizations. And again, no response was received in respect of this petition till date. We strongly believe that there is an underlying motive for the timing of the recent attacks on Senator Dino Melaye.

Senator Dino Melaye who is also contesting for the Senatorial slot of the Kogi West, Senatorial District, was scheduled to be one of the keynote speakers on 5th of January, 2019, in Lokoja Kogi State, the day his party, the PDP, flagged off in its national campaign in Kogi State. Senator Dino Melaye verily believes that the federal government is doing everything possible, including the use of our publicly financed Nigeria Police apparatchik, to harass, intimidate, silence and possibly kill him, thereby ultimately frustrating his senatorial ambition.

It is pertinent to note that the incident that led to the alleged case of attempted homicide against Senator Dino Melaye took place, far back, on the 19th of July, 2018. Senator Dino Melaye has since then always been at the National Assembly, discharging his legislative duties. The Nigeria Police also know his home in Abuja. They have always seen him at the National Assembly. They never sent invitation letters personally to him. If they sent any through the Clerk of the National Assembly, no such invitation was received by Senator Dino Melaye.
For the Nigeria Police to come out during this period of political campaign, to arrest Senator Dino Melaye, is a clear indication that there is a plot using the Nigeria Police, to frustrate Senator Dino Melaye, politically. The alleged offence which Dino Melaye purportedly committed was allegedly in Kogi State. The said alleged offence has nothing to do with his physical residence in Maitama Abuja. Why would the Nigeria Police lay siege on, and barricade the street and stop family members and political associates of Dino Melaye from accessing his house, since the house was never a crime scene?
It would be recalled that Melaye had complianed to the world that the Kogi State, Governor in his desperate attempts to undo Dino Melaye politically, had stage-managed his botched recall from the Senate, which process failed ignominiously even while he was chained to a hospital bed like an animal by the same Nigeria Police. The process of the alleged recall was also commenced in a similar disgraceful manner, which the Igbodo of Nigeria police is now branding Nigerian Movie Part 2. The Nigeria Police had arrested him, imobilized him, and during that period, the recall process was hurridely carried out. Yet, it failed woefully. It is thus the Nigeria Police, not Dino, that is acting the script of the federal government and Dino’s state governor, in their desperate attempt to silence Dino Melaye and frustrate his political ambition.
The Nigeria Police had since April, 2018, withdrawn Senator Dino Melaye’s Police security attached to him. The Nigeria Police has since refused all requests, to restore Dino Melaye’s security, despite several letters written to them, including letters from the Senate President and the Clerk of the National Assembly. The Police has never been able to proffer any reason whatsoever for withdrawing the security attached to a serving Senator, till date.
The same Nigeria Police has since refused to release Senator Dino Melaye’s International Passports which is in their custody, notwithstanding a clear order of court directing them to release same forthwith, since 25th of July 2018. Till date, Dino’s passports are still illegally and wrongfully detained by the same Police, notwithstanding the subsisting court order, and several letters from our chambers urging them to release same.
Senator Dino Melaye’s health has worsened because of Police brutality. These facts are known to the Police and Igbodo, the Head of their Legal Department. Many of them have been judicially pronounced upon by the courts, in some of the several trumped up charges filed against Melaye, by the Police. It is highly condemnable that the Nigeria Police would be making a caricature of the health status of not just a Nigerian, but a distinguished serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. To this, we say, that the life and health of every man, is in the hands of God. Today, it is Dino. Who knows whom it might be,tomorrow.
Dino Melaye hereby denies most vehemently, the statement ascribed by AIG David Igbodo, to the effect that Dino has been absenting himself from his trial in Lokoja Kogi State. This statement by Mr Igbodo betrays their desperation to paint Dino black, just to rubbish his high reputation before the Nigerian public. The said statement is untrue and constitutes a calculated attempt to bias the mind of the judiciary, which will ultimately decide on these fake charges. Court processes and proceedings are public records which can be accessed by anyone. Senator Dino Melaye has consistently appeared for his trial in Lokoja, Kogi State. It is the Nigeria Police that is deliberately frustrating its case, apparently having no iota of evidence to substantiate the trumped up charges against Dino Melaye.
The Nigeria Police had consistently failed to produce one of the co-accused persons in court, the basis of which the trial has been stalled severally. It was only on the last adjourned date, that the Police orally informed the court that the said co-accused has died in detention. There was absolutely nothing before the court such as a medical report, to show the cause of the alleged death. The court berated the prosecution, and directed them to make a formal application to that effect; hence the matter was further adjourned.
Melaye has, within five months, and over six times, been charged before different hierarchies of Nigerian courts, on trumped-up charges, with a view to harass and intimidate him.

Some of these frivolous charges have either been withdrawn by the Police themselves or struck out by the courts, for being frivolous and vexatious, as he has not committed any known criminal offence.

Melaye says that no prior invitation was ever served on him as a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, prior to the forceful invasion of his home by the agents of the Police in respect of any known offence.

He states that prior invitation ought to have been sent to him, as a serving Senator, through the Clerk of the National Assembly before the forceful invasion of his home, but none was ever served on him.

We, as Melaye’s lawyers, had to get him to voluntarily submit himself to the Police, following our assurance to him that we would carefully monitor the situation and ensure that no harm came to him.

Following Melaye’s voluntary submission to the Police in company of his lawyers, he was first taken to the SARS Police Station where he collapsed. Seeing his dangerous health situation, the police were forced to rush him to the Police hospital at Area 1, Garki, Abuja, where they kept him from 4th January to 11th January, 2019.

It is apposite to point out that when Dino got to the hospital, his BP was taken on 4th January, 2019 and it was 120/80.

By 6th of January, 2019, when it was again taken, it was 130/90. Similar exercise carried out on 7th January, 2019, revealed that the Applicant’s BP had frightenly shot up to 150/110, because of his terrible health situation. Dino was therefore rushed to Alliance Police Hospital by the Police themselves, where he was attended to by three specialist physicians – Neurologist, Pulmonologists and Cardiologist. Mr Igbodo is aware of that.

These specialists gave a medical report that Melaye should immediately be evacuated to either Alliance Hospital or National Hospital, Abuja, as his hospital at Garki can not provide the type of treatment or environment suitable for his recovery. Mr Igbodo and his all-powerful Police Force refused to honour this medical advice of experts and specialists till date. He knows very well the Police Hospital at Area 1 where he has been taken to is ill-equipped and there are no adequate specialists/personnel to care and cater for his peculiar degenerative health status.

Melaye’s statements were taken on the 8th of January, 2019, in his poor health condition and he has made three statements thus far.

Mr Igbodo knows as a matter of fact that no warrant of arrest was ever shown to Dino’s brother who had requested for same from the Police; and none was shown to Nkem Okoro, Esq, a lawyer from the law firm of Mike Ozekhomes’s Chambers, who had come to confirm if there was indeed any warrant for his arrest. Mr Igbodo also knows that no warrant of arrest was shown to his lead counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, whose intervention had led to Dino’s voluntary submission of himself to the Police; and none has been shown to Dino till date.

Since his incarceration in Police custody, both at the SARS office at Guzape, Abuja, and the Police hospital at Area 1, Garki, Abuja, Dino and team of lawyers had serially, continuously and variously begged the Police and operatives to grant Dino administrative bail, a request they have bluntly refused to grant.

Based on this refusal, we were compelled to write a formal letter to the Police, making the same request for administrative bail. The said letter has also not been replied to, nor its contents granted till date, by Mr Igbodo and his all-conquering Police.

To the utter shock of Melaye, Igbodo’s Police, on the 11th day of January, 2019, came with over six masked armed police officers, to Senator Dino Melaye’s hospital ward, where he had been detained in custody by the Police itself and whisked him away to the DSS medical facility, along Airport Road, Abuja, which is several kilometres away, without any justifiable reason.

On arrival at the DSS clinic, not sure of the sinister intentions and motives of the Police, having not complained to be taken away from the Police clinic, Dino refused to be admitted into the DSS clinic, since he had no issue with the DSS. The Policemen led by Mr Igbodo, who brought him to the DSS facility dumped him outside the hall, under the cold and indecent elements of nature, on Mr Igbodo’s instructions.

Dino was able to reach out to our law firm and we immediately sent representatives to go and inform the Police about the clear order of the court that he be kept in a Police facility and that our client had no business being in the DSS facility.

Upon our team of lawyers arriving there, the DSS security guard kept them outside for more than an hour. At the end of the day, they only allowed one of the lawyers, in the person of Miss Oluchi Uche, to have access into the DSS facility. On arriving there, the lawyer met with our client lying down helplessly on the floor, where he had been dumped on Mr Igbodo’s Orders.

Our representative requested to know why the Police were attempting to disobey the custodial court order which outrightly stated that Dino be kept in a Police facility. Mr Igbodo replied very cynically and aggressively that the Police have a right to detain an accused in any facility of their choice. He went ahead and threatened to chain, manacle and shackle Dino on his hands and bundle him into the facility, using brute force, if he refused to go in.

Miss Uche confronted Mr igbodo, advising him (a lawyer for that matter), against allowing himselve to be used as an instrument of oppression and illegality. Mr Igbodo boasted openly that Dino could sleep in the cold for all he cared. This notwithstanding the fact that Mr Igbodo knows Dino’s critical medical situation, attested to by his Police medical personnel. Consequently, he dumped Dino on the floor of the DSS facility, where he was left to sleep outside, in the cold. The whole world saw this ugly scene on the social and print media.

The latest in the Police magical performance (they are the ones actually playing comical scenes), is that Dino as at this morning, was moved to SARS detention custody where he is presently being kept.

CONCLUSION
The Nigeria Police is here reminded of the constitutional provisions in Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution and other statutory and international instruments, which presume every accused person innocent until his guilt is established beyond all reasonable doubt before a court of competent jurisdiction. We have observed in the press conference by AIG David Igbodo, that he clearly made statements prejudicially suggesting that the Police have already concluded on the guilt of Senator Dino Melaye, without even waiting for any pronouncement by the courts to that effect. This, we believe, does not accord with internationally accepted best practices by Police any where in the world, contrary to Mr Igbodo’s ascertion. The world and the international community are hereby alerted about the evil machinations of the Nigeria Police Force towards Senator Dino Melaye.

Chief Mike A.A Ozekhome, SAN, OFR, FCIArb, Ph.D, LL.D
Chief Counsel/Head of Chambers

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Featured

Okuama Massacre: Military Declares Eight Persons Wanted

Published

on

By

The Defence Headquarters has declared eight persons wanted over their roles in the recent killing of 17 military personnel in Delta State.

The military released the list on Thursday at a briefing in Abuja.

Those declared wanted are Prof. Ekpekpo Arthur, Andaowei Dennis Bakriri, Akevwru Daniel Omotegbo (Aka Amagben), Akata Malawa David, Sinclear Oliki, Clement Ikolo Oghenerukeywe, Reuben Baru, and Igoli Ebi.

During the briefing, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, called on Nigerians especially residents of Delta and adjoining states to assist the military with credible information that would lead to the arrest of eight persons allegedly responsible for the killing of seventeen soldiers in Okuama community in Delta State.

General Buba says the military remains determined to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous act in Delta State, reaffirming its commitment to rescue all kidnapped and abducted victims in Nigeria.

Continue Reading

Featured

How CJMR Has Championed Restoration of Justice to Unjustly Incarcerated, Condemned – Founder, Olujobi

Published

on

By

By Eric Elezuo

“At CJMR, we stand firm on our scriptural foundation: ‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice…,” Pastor Olujobi 

Most citizens of the world are endowed with milk of human kindness, and are ever ready to lend a helping hand to folks in need, either for cash or kind. One of these citizens is a Nigerian of special breed, filled with compassion and zeal to assist wrongfully detained persons to regain their freedom. He is Mr. Hezekiah Olujobi, who is leading the fight against wrongful detention and elongated detention without trial with his Non-Governmental Organization, the Centre for Justice, Mercy and Reconciliation (CJMR).

The CJMR as stated, is NGO dedicated to promoting human rights and advocacy within the Nigeria Correctional Service and strengthening the rule of law in Nigeria Criminal Justice System, according to the Founder, Mr. Olujobi.

“Our area of focus are Advocacy, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Investigation, Cases review, Rehabilitation of individual upon freedom and Restorative Justice in Criminal Matter,” he added.

The CJMR as an organization, was established in 1999, and was officially registered in 2009. It has since then accumulated an enviable and proven track record of facilitating the release of individuals from death row, some of whom had been unjustly incarcerated for 18 to 28 years.

“Additionally, over 600 inmates have been freed from illegal detention after 4 to 12 years without trial. The organization has also established a Halfway Home that has benefited over 300 individuals.

“Our activities cut across the Correctional service in South West: Oyo, Odun , Ogun and Lagos States. We still have over 100 cases for intervention including 10 people on death row whom we strongly believed they are victims of wrongful conviction,” Olujobi stressed.

Hezekiah Olujobi, also known as a Pastor, for his vocation as a preacher of the gospel, who is the founder of CJMR, is currently working on two books to project the work of the organization so far.

The first, “Their Stories Behind Bars,” is a collection of narratives from individuals wrongfully sentenced to death and how the organization helped secure their rrlease, while the second book, “Their Hurts and Unforgettable Memories,” delves into the stories of victims and offenders, exploring their deep hurts and the healing process through restorative justice.

The following stories below as told by Pastor Olujobi, carefully epitomizes how far the NGO has gone to put smiles on the faces of individuals, who have otherwise lost hope of ever living their lives among free people again

Olaniyi Emiola’s Wrongful Conviction: My Belief in His Innocence

Olaniyi Emiola was sentenced to death based on witness testimony that was a case of mistaken identity. The armed robber apprehended at the crime scene insisted he was not the person being referred to and claimed he did not know Emiola at all. However, one of the victims, who recognized Emiola by the name “Abija,” insisted that he was the culprit. Emiola was known in the streets as “Abija,” not “Niyi,” yet the robber mentioned a “Femi Niyi,” not “Abija.” The man in question is Olaniyi Emiola, not Femi Niyi. During the trial, it was claimed that the robber identified the house of their leader to them, who is known as Abija,

In this controversial case, the conclusion of judgment of my noble lord, Hon Justice Jimoh of the Tribunal Court, was as follows:

“It is our considered judgment that the discovery of the second accused in the house pointed out by the first accused to the prosecution, and the discovery of the stolen items in the house shown to the police by the first accused, are admissible and well taken. Referencing R. v. Garbett (1847) 2 C & K 474 and R. v. Treacy (1945) 30 CAR 93, with these authorities in view, the second accused has been properly identified and linked with the commission of the crime charged.

Since the prosecution has adduced sufficient evidence to place the second accused at the scene at the material time, his alibi defense is logically and physically demolished.

This was established by the Supreme Court in the cases of Patrick Njovens vs. The State (1973) 5 SC 17 at 65 and Christian Nwosisi v. The State (1976) 6 SC 109 at 112.

It is my considered judgment that since the defense of the second accused has failed and, by the acceptable evidence of the prosecution witnesses, the accused has fallen into the warm embrace of the law, and I so hold.

SENTENCE: OLANIYI EMIOLA – The sentence of the Tribunal upon you is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead or suffer death by firing squad, as the Administrator of this State may direct. May the Lord have mercy on your soul.”

This was the judgment that sent a man to darkness and anguish, leaving him to await execution in a solitary cell for 11 years without the right to appeal, luckily for him, the abolition of execution was announced in Nigeria.

Reprieve came when we visited Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in 2007. We investigated the matter by analyzing the entire judgment and all the contents of the case file. We took up his case, amplified his voice of innocence, and refuted all the arguments in light of the existing facts recorded in the judgement.

Olaniyi Emiola was finally set free in January 2011, after 17 years had been wrongfully taken from his life.

One can only imagine what would have happened if execution had not been abolished in Nigeria.

CJMR’s Advocacy visit to the Oyo State Attorney General

The organisation has also taken its advocacy to the Attorney General’s office in Oyo State, and achieved certain parameters as represented in the narrative below:

“On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, the Committee for Centre for Justice Mercy and Reconciliation (CJMR) conducted an advocacy visit to the office of the Oyo State Attorney General. The purpose of the visit was to highlight the plight of numerous inmates who have been denied justice and are enduring the prolonged anguish of indefinite trials for capital offenses.

The primary goal of the visit was to bring to the Attorney General’s attention specific cases of individuals who appear to have been wrongfully accused of capital offenses and have been languishing in detention since 2015 without legal advice. Additionally, there are those who have been repeatedly taken to the High Court since 2017 without the prosecution presenting a single witness.

In a recent development on March 18 and 19, 2024, the Oyo State Chief Judge, Honorable Justice Iyabo Yerima, visited the custodial centers in Ibadan and Oyo. She firmly resolved not to address any capital offense cases, maintaining her stance throughout the jail delivery exercise. Consequently, 32 inmates were released from Agodi and 38 from Oyo, totaling 70 releases from facilities that house 1,250 and 827 inmates, respectively. The data clearly indicates that a significant proportion of detainees charged with capital offenses remain unaddressed.

Pastor Olujobi further noted that “During the CJMR’s visit, seven recommendations were proposed to enhance the efficiency of justice delivery by the Attorney General’s office, and a list of 32 individuals awaiting legal advice was submitted.”

The Attorney General, known for his humility and activism, pledged to collaborate with the CJMR.

He further acknowledged that “It is a profound injustice for individuals, even those apprehended with substantial evidence, to be detained indefinitely, risking the degradation of evidence and waning interest or resolve of witnesses. The slow turn of the justice system’s wheels can erode its very foundation.

“Similarly, it is an injustice for an innocent person to endure punishment due to procedural delays or inefficiencies.

The presumption of innocence until proven guilty is a fundamental principle of democratic societies, yet it is undermined when the process to establish innocence is plagued by excessive delays. The time for change is now.

Olujobi is also of the view that “The judiciary must move beyond a confessionary-based approach to prison decongestion and focus on those unjustly detained for capital offenses.”

From Darkness to Light: The Unraveling of Injustice and the Triumph of Freedom for Olusola Adepetu after 26 years behind bar

In this scenario, the police conducted a comprehensive investigation, and the defense attorney performed admirably. However, despite these efforts, the judge appeared to succumb to public pressure, reminiscent of Pontius Pilate’s historical decision, resulting in Olusola Adepetu being wrongfully sentenced to death.

Tragically, this miscarriage of justice led to the loss of 26 years of Adepetu’s life.

The appellant, a native of Ondo state was 34 years old at the time of his arrest, a father of 4 children with a broken home.

He was the owner of Olusola Naturalist Hospital. He was a Guru in herbal traditional-medicine, very popular with radio and television advertisements.

He cures all manner of ailment, he was a highlife socialite, he was a member of special marshal of Federal Road Safety Commission, due to the nature of his work as herbal traditional medicine healer he was highly connected with people in high places who always patronized him and in the world ravaged with deceases people always throng his office to seek healing for their ailments.

He is not a medical doctor but always referred to as Doctor Olusola.

All of a sudden, the light of his fame and popularity went off, he was enveloped with thick darkness. For a good 26 years he never walks under the moon nor is beaten by rain.

What happened?

His girlfriend was murdered in a mysterious way, three days later, her dead body was recovered by the police at the Express way, Sanyo, Ibadan and deposited at mortuary in Adeoyo state Hospital. Who must have done this?

Nobody knows till today. The relations who were in the shop of the father of his girlfriend who saw him when he came to pick the deceased and the bar man who saw him the previous day with the deceased pointed touch light on him.

Upon his arrest, rumors went round the whole city like wildfire and consumed the heart of men, same Radio and Television stations where his advertisements were being jingled, announced his arrest, all kinds of rumors went round the city, his case became a celebrated case.

He was consumed by the public adverse opinion.

With all kinds of rumors, the death of the lady was attributed to ritual killing, some said he cut the breast of the lady, some said he cut her private part for the ritual purpose.

At every court adjournment the whole court room and the premises will always be filled up with people. The case attracted the public interest. Like Pontius Pilate, the judge has no choice than to deliver the innocent man as a sacrificial lamb not for the world but for his likely hidden sin.

Light shines on his path again, when we unravel the case file documents with the dissenting judgement and the man regains his freedom after 26 years.

The critical question is: Who will advocate for the poor and helpless? It is us;
The Chief Judge, Attorney General, Commissioner of Police, and all stakeholders must be involved. And this where CJMR comes in, and the organization are doing it.

“We therefore call for wholesome assistance from all and sundry to sustain the tempo, and help our people, who graciously need the assistance,” Olujobi concluded.

Continue Reading

Featured

Binance Executive Detained in Nigeria Escapes from Custody

Published

on

By

One of the two Binance executives detained in Nigeria for alleged tax evasion and other offences, Nadeem Anjarwalla, has escaped from lawful custody, according to PREMIUM TIMES report.

Our sources said Mr Anjarwalla, 38, escaped on Friday, 22 March, from the Abuja guest house where he and his colleague were detained after guards on duty led him to a nearby mosque for prayers in the spirit of the ongoing Ramadan fast.

The Briton, who also has Kenyan citizenship, is believed to have flown out of Abuja using a Middle East airliner.

It remains unclear how Mr Anjarwalla got on an international flight despite his British passport, with which he entered Nigeria, remaining in the custody of the Nigerian authorities.

Authorities are also said to be working to unravel his intended destination in a bid to get him back into custody.

An Immigration official said the Binance executive fled Nigeria on a Kenyan passport. He, however, said authorities were trying to determine how he obtained the passport, given that he had no other travel document (apart from the British passport) on him when he was taken into custody.

Another source said the two officials were held at a “comfortable guest house” and allowed many rights, including the use of telephones, a privilege Mr Anjarwalla is believed to have exploited to plot an escape.

When contacted Sunday night on the escape of the Binance executive from detention, the Head of Strategic Communication at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa, said he would enquire and revert. He has yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

Mr Anjarwalla, Binance’s Africa regional manager, and Tigran Gambaryan, a US citizen overseeing financial crime compliance at the crypto exchange platform, were detained upon their arrival in Nigeria on 26 February 2024.

A criminal charge was filed against the two executives before a Magistrate Court in Abuja. On 28 February 2024, the court granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) an order to remand the duo for 14 days. The court also ordered Binance to provide the Nigerian government with the data/information of Nigerians trading on its platform.

Following Binance’s refusal to comply with the order, the court extended the remand of the officials for an additional 14 days to prevent them from tampering with evidence. The court then adjourned the case till 4 April 2024.

Also on 22 March, the Nigerian government approached the Federal High Court in Abuja and slammed another four-count charge on Binance Holdings Limited, Mr Anjarwalla and Mr Gambaryan, accusing them of offering services to subscribers on their platform while failing to register with the Federal Inland Revenue Service to pay all relevant taxes administered by the Service and in so doing, committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 8 of the Value Added Tax Act of 1993 (as Amended).

The defendants were also accused of offering taxable services to subscribers on their trading platform while failing to issue invoices to those subscribers to determine and pay their value-added taxes and, in so doing, committed an offence contrary to and punishable under S.29 of the Value Added Tax Act of 1993 (as amended).

Count Three of the charges accused the three defendants of offering services to subscribers on their Binance trading platform for the buying and selling of cryptocurrencies and the remittance and transfer of those assets while failing to deduct the necessary Value Added Taxes arising from their operations and thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 40 of the Federal Inland Revenue Service Establishment Act 2007 (as amended).

The last count of the charges wants the defendants punished for allegedly aiding and abetting subscribers on their Binance trading platform to unlawfully refuse to pay taxes or neglect to pay those taxes and, in so doing, committing an offence contrary to and punishable under the provisions of S.94 of the Companies Income Tax Act (as amended).

The Nigerian government had, in the past three months, been cracking down on suspected money launderers and terrorism financiers, some of whom it alleged are using the Binance platform for criminal activities

The Nigerian government said over $21.6 billion was traded by Nigerians whose identities were concealed by Binance.

Source: Premium Times

Continue Reading

Trending