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Ogun State is Set for the Next Level – Mayokun Ilo

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By Eric Elezuo

In a couple of months, the already active political atmosphere will become more intense as more and more heavyweights continue to throw their hats in the ring.

In Ogun State, a new rave of youth, brains and vision has just declared his intention to occupy the seat soon to be vacated by Senator Ibikunle Amosun. He is Engineer Mayokun Adeyemi Christopher Ilo, a seasoned technocrat and reputed academic. In this interview, he reveals why he is the best man for the job. Excerpts:

Can we meet you?

I am Engineer Mayokun Adeyemi Christopher Ilo. I am a Petroleum Engineer, an Economist, a Business Administrator, as well as a Brand Strategy Lecturer. I am currently an aspirant for the governorship seat of Ogun State. It is not long I joined partisan politics, but I am a man on a mission. My entry into politics is to give a new lease of life to the determination of young and qualified people in Nigeria to get involved in governance, and be domiciled in a position where they can take charge; a position where the talent and skills that have been invested in them over the years can be brought to the forefront of national service . So, they can prove their ability and take the country from the precipice, and put it on the path of development in tandem with global standards.

A business administrator, lecturer and engineer among other duties – how do you combine all them to make up the Mayokun you are?

Sometimes I scare myself with my interest in many fields, but there’s an overarching hand guiding my choices. As the Chinese would say “he who can see three days ahead will live for a thousand years.” There is this future I have been working towards since the age of 10; it has been a driving force in everything I do.

I have the idea of what global education is. I have studied both in Nigeria and abroad. I did my MBA at the University of Liverpool and presently, I am rounding off my Doctoral studies. I have been a worker at a Federal Government Parastatal . I have been an investor in businesses. All these accomplishments are products of grace, and I give the glory to God.

You are a “new comer” in politics. What have you therefore, put in place to be able to overcome contenders who have been in politics all their lives?

There is a saying that the world makes a way for a man who knows where he is going. When the time for something has come there is nothing anybody can do to stop it. There is no stopping an idea whose time is come. Again, when you are in the market, you have to focus on what brought you to the market not on the noise in the market. Maybe there are close to 40 contestants across various platforms but the seat is ultimately for one person. On May 29, 2019, one person will emerge as the governor of the state, and everybody has their own pedigree and I have mine also. But looking at the landscape, I know forces will change and realign . There are different agendas I must tell you. Some people are counting on their monetary credentials; how much they are worth coming into the race. The primary interest should be what vision; what service are we to render? Who is best qualified? Who has got the preparation? Who is best to take this state to another level? The current governor whether one likes it or not has achieved enough growing the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state from N730 million per month in 2011 to almost N8 billion every month now. This is vision. He has focused on education. He has focused on agriculture. He has focused on infrastructure. Therefore, the next person should not discard these achievements or make light on them. Whoever will take over should be someone who will build on this foundation. I am not doing the politics of pulling my predecessor down. I am going to build on the achievements His Excellency has made in office; I am going to take it to another level, and I am going to combine it with the energy of youth, and the vision I have had over the years about what it takes to transform an economy. I schooled both in Nigeria and abroad. I have attended conferences. I have friends across different social and economic cadres. I know what it takes to develop in a sustainable fashion , and I know the key variables that are needed to transform an economy like ours. I know the yearnings of our people. So, I am going to look at all these. I will look at the old and the young, and stay in the middle, thereby, projecting the state in a way that will grow our revenue; get our people employed both in the public and private sectors. We will enhance the quality of living of our people. That’s essentially why I am going to serve at this particular point in time.

 
Still as a new comer, wouldn’t it have been better for you to start from maybe State House of Assembly, local government chairmanship or the likes, to gain experience?

Most of these things are relative, and in the hierarchy; the governor is still below the president. I am older than Macron of France, and I don’t think he has greater vision or intellect than I do. Maybe, this is even a low level for me but realistically speaking, when I started out, my initial intention was to start with the state assembly but the kind of vision I am carrying is too big for that level. It could not wait another eight years before taking on executive power. Although the legislature has their relevance, the executive is vested with policy implementation . If I was to be in the state house of assembly, I am just one over twenty-six. You can have the best vision, and when you make the law and the governor refuses to assent to it because he has no idea of it; there might be conflict. But there is a time which Shakespeare called “the tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.” Therefore, there is this tide and yearning on the part of the youths, and even on the country itself for a change in leadership, and those who are best prepared should come out when the call is sounded. Abraham Lincoln said I will study and prepare, and perhaps my time will come. I have prepared. I have done my homework. I have handled massive projects and strategic facilities , even in this country, as a staff of a Federal Government led organisation. So, handling big projects or being entrusted with funds in their billions is nothing strange to me because it is something I have done for over 10 years now; this is just an opportunity for me to take it to another level, and it will affect more lives. It will also show our people that good, faithful, quality stewardship doesn’t have to come from abroad. We have people who are best qualified to do that in Nigeria. I am one of them.



You find aspirants saying so much and after gaining the seat they are derailed from their plans. How do you want to manage the clout of governorship and dancing to the tune of some people?

Politics will always be politics. But what I found out is that it’s the value you bring to it that ultimately shapes you. It is a back and forth thing. There is always a tendency for the system to change you, and there is always a tendency for you to affect the politics of your time. It is 50/50. For me, I believe that the values I am bringing can not be questioned. The value of most politicians is questioned; I am different. Values don’t change overnight. After the age of 40, nothing about your core changes; that’s just the truth. I have had the opportunity to serve, and I remain above board. If I am going into politics, I am going to make a positive change on the society. Once in a while, you bend backwards to accommodate the less privileged, but ultimately the guiding light for you should be service to the people. Is it the best, fair to all concerned , and make a better society for all of us? If the answers to those questions are yes, then you go ahead and do it.

 Sir, what makes you different from other aspirants?

I am young. I am visionary. I am passionate, and I am an entrepreneur. Most of our leaders in Nigeria dont’t read, and they tell you that readers are leaders. You can’t give what you don’t have. Awolowo straddles across our everyday life. Everybody talks about him in several fora. He is not from Mercury; he is a human being. I have read, and am still reading about Awolowo, because I want to have an insight about how he was able to make tremendous achievements at that era, so I can know the pitfalls to avoid and then be able to replicate and surpass his achievements. But if all you think is what you can get from public office, or how you can get richer on account of having political power, then, the country is doomed! If you are coming from the perspective of service, then, we can smile and say within this 4 or 8 years, one has been able to impact lives. Hence, the people you have impacted their lives will make your children find better acceptance in the society all because of what you have done. My father wasn’t a rich man but when he died, people said he impacted their lives and this makes my heart leap for joy. That’s the kind of legacy I want to leave behind; I don’t want to leave the legacy of corruption or incompetence. I want to leave a legacy that I came, performed, and did well for our people . The governorship for me is a starting point. There are other bigger things coming. If I mess up between 40 and 50 years of my life, then, for the next 30 or 40 years of my life, I will be looked down on because I made a mess of my opportunity in life. But if I do it well, bigger things at the national and international stages would beckon. I want to leave a mark so everybody would say let’s give this young man still bigger responsibilities, for he has proven himself. That is my focus in running for this office.

In Ogun state, everybody is clamouring for Yewa indigene. Are you from Yewa?

Yes, I am.

Who do you think is your greatest rival among other contenders?

Everyone that has thrown their hats into the ring is generally qualified. Maybe they are also patriotic, there is no doubt. The zeal maybe there. The resources maybe there. But it is not about the number, there is no room for two governors to run one state at the same time. There might be other things that they also can do, but to the best of my knowledge, with the endowment I have, the things I have seen, and the kind of support we are getting from the stakeholders and political class, I have no doubt that this is time for me to lead. The kind of vision we have is the kind that is chart- topping. I see Ogun state as a country, and it is actually a country. In terms of population, the state is more than some countries. Therefore, when we look at it that way, you have to approach it strategically. Like, if this is a country, how do I make sure that my unemployment rate is below 4%. How do I provide transportation for people in the remote areas? How do I improve the quality of life for my citizens? We have national average, but I am not only looking at that. I am looking at what the per capital income of each citizen is, and it is not about people who are potentially from Ogun state, even the people who are living there are all stakeholders. Not everyone who lives in Lagos is from Lagos State, but they all contribute to the economy of the state. That’s how the economy of Ogun state is. Together we can build an Ogun state that can be on fast track to excellence, and we can now see if we are following Dubai or Asian models, or German model, or Western model to develop. There is actually a plan by the present administration; we will look at it and build on it, because where there is no plan, whoever is there is likely to fail. We plan, we work our plan, and we plan our work. That is the intention.



If the incumbent governor fails to anoint you as his candidate, will you still continue the quest since you are in same party?

I have no reason whatsoever to believe I will not be the accepted candidate. We should not forget that the governor himself is a stakeholder. He has been doing his best as a leader and mentor to the best of his ability . Ordinarily, he would be interested in whoever succeeds him; It is the way it is all over the world. Obama saw Donald Trump and endorsed Hillary Clinton, but he did it after some consultation and several programmes that Hillary Clinton had, after interacting with her; that’s the way of politics. There is a process called primary in state and federal elections. It is to determine who the delegates want. The governor can lean in one way or the other but ultimately power belongs to the people. I joined partisan politics and worked my way through the party structure from the Unit and Ward level ; and if they don’t know you at the unit, how will they know you at the state level. We have the unit, wards, LCDA, Local Government, the senatorial, before the state excos. I worked my way through all these ranks and the acceptance is something I appreciate. They see the light I see, and believe I am relatively young compared to other candidates, and the best prepared and qualified. I believe when the time comes both the delegates and the totality of our people will give me the mandate to lead our people into prosperity.

What is that unique thing you are promising the people and Ogun state?

I can promise that for every day I will be the governor and afterwards, I am going to be looking out for their interests.

They would want to know how?

In everything I do in governance. For instance, If your driving passion is to make your neighbour a better person, the opportunities will be given. Many people went to private school, I didn’t go to private school. I went to public school,and even from there I was able to make the best result in WAEC in the whole of Lagos State in my year . We are going to bring back hope in our public educational system and return the value to what it used to be or even better than that.

That means education will get a face lift?

Yes, it will. There is going to be automatic employment opportunities as well and scholarships for deserving students and graduates. Schooling will be essentially free up to secondary school level, and if there will be tuition in higher institutions, it will be minimal. Being an entrepreneur, I will look for ways of making sure that the burden on the government is not much through Public Private Partnership and through some economic means of making income available to schools to run their programmes.

Is there anything new you are bringing in as per enhancing the IGR, or are you going to fall back to the template in the state already?

In Economics, we work with graphs. If somebody can do a ten -fold increase in 10 years, you will plot a graph against that and you can extrapolate further to see what is feasible. This is how he was able to achieve them. Accommodating new industries, inviting them, and bringing them in; promoting private sector initiatives and many others. There is a programme called Ogun investment forum. It is an annual programme where businesses find out the policies of government. That is a step in the right direction, we would do more of such. Then, we would look at some angles that have not been touched but are promising . Presently, I am looking at border towns with Lagos and we are exploring ways of improving the quality of lives of those people; strategically position ourselves and Lagos State with a joint effort to achieve value, business wise and infrastructure wise, because many people even in their millions who live with Ogun state actually work in Lagos; and how can we add value to them by implication. And if they feel the impact of government, you won’t have to beg them to pay taxes.


We will have up-to-date information on vacancies across our state through which we would link citizens who are desirous of jobs. The moment we have your data, it will not be difficult for you to have a job. And we are going to look at multiple taxation on small business, I don’t like it as a business person. So, we would streamline the tax processes. We would look at the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and how we can help them, and we may ask them to form a co-operative society so as to access some benefits from government.

We will provide credits through banks or grants on single digit interest. We are going to look at issues of providing Agric settlements for those who want to take up agriculture, and many other things that can make the lives of our people better as well as how we can improve our life expectancy to the extent that even those abroad would consider coming home and relocate to Ogun state.

Would you allow ranching colonies in Ogun State?

When we get to that bridge, we would cross it. The right of indigenous people must be respected. Land is cultural and the people who have been there from time memorial must be respected. Life is sacred and nobody should take laws into their own hands. The issue of land will be a decision of our people through referendum or representation. I will provide leadership and look into the future and avoid issues that will bring untold hardship or death to the citizens.

Finally, can we assume that with you on the seat of power, nothing can go wrong in Ogun State?

Nothing can go wrong. Governance is a challenge, and issues will always arise but when those issues arise, we will be up to them. Considering my pedigree and God’s guidance , I am more than qualified to deal with any situation. We will not be caught unawares, we would adopt the necessary analysis and whatever template that will see us into the future. Though there may arise issues that were not planned for, I promise that there would be mechanisms in place to deal with them, even natural disasters . People cannot do everything for themselves, and that is why they pay tax, and that’s why they elect leaders, and the leaders must do whatever is expected of them. I am that leader who will take Ogun State to the next level.

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Okuama Massacre: Military Declares Eight Persons Wanted

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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.

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

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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.

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Binance Executive Detained in Nigeria Escapes from Custody

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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

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