By NSAN NDOMA-NEJI, Calabar
A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to embattled cryptocurrency entrepreneur Obol Jesam Michael after spending three weeks in police detention. However, despite the court's directive, the police have reportedly refused to release him, keeping him at an ex-SARS facility.
Presiding over the case, Justice M.A. Madugu ruled in favor of Michael's bail after the police failed to present any justification for his continued detention during a hearing on the enforcement of his fundamental rights.
Accordingly, the Court ordered that the crypto entrepreneur be released forthwith without any form of re-arrest by the police.
In suit No: FCT/HC/CV/14/2025 and motion No: FCT/HC/BW/M/139/2025 between Obol Jasam Michael (applicant) and Nigeria police Force, inspector general of police, DCP Okezie Chikezie (Anti-fraud section FCID) Ezekiel Okporante Stella Chinenye Onigbe, IGP monitoring unit and five others as ( respondents).
The order dated February 19, 2025 reads," Upon reading the motion on notice along with accompanying affidavit of Florence Michael Ubo including written address and exhibit filed along with the application.
"And upon hearing E. A. Esin (Esq), with him Sam John Usani counsel to the claimant the court hereby restrained the 1st,2nd,3rd,4th,5th ,8th, and 9th respondents from re-arresting and detaining Obol Jesam Michael without recourse to the Court.
"The court also ordered the 1st,2nd,3rd,4th,5th ,8th, and 9th respondents from re-arresting and detaining Obol Jesam Michael without recourse to the Court.
But in a swift reaction to the issue, Counsel to respondent, Obono Obla commenting on the issue, alleged that the order to release the applicant was served had accordingly been served on the Inspector General of Police and all Police officers involved in the matter, but they refused to obey it.
"The police in a fragrant demonstration of lawless rather took him to the headquarters of the EFCC and sought to hand him over to the EFCC in a desperate bid to frustrate the execution of the order to release him forthwith.
"But, the EFCC authorities refused to take over the matter and made it clear to the police that it should obey the court order to release him.
"The police then removed Jesam Michael from their detention facility in Maitama, where he had been kept for the past three weeks to their facility in the former SARS where he is still being kept despite the order by the court that he should be released". Obla alleged.
Obla alleged that sureties produces by the applicant to facilitate his client bail were chased away by the police even though the sureties met the bail conditions.
Reacting to the issue in a telephone conversation with our correspondent , the police investigating officer one CSP Mohammed stated that he is not on the right position to speak on the issue as there are other superior authorities that ought to respond to the matter.
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