Court orders police not to rearrested crypto currency entrepreneur

From Ene Asuquo 

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Abuja has ordered the Inspector General of Police not to re-arrest a crypto currency entrepreneur, Obol Jesam Michael for inability to show cause why he should not be released.

Michael was arrested over issues surrounding the crypto currency and has since been under police detention. But he filed an action for 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 high court ordered his release on 18 February 2025.

The judge ordered the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th and 9th respondents from re -arresting and detaining Obol Jesam Michael without recourse to the Court. 

The order to release him was accordingly served on the Inspector General of Police and all Police officers involved in the matter, but they refused to obey it. 

Instead of obeying the court order, sources have confirmed that the police have rather taken the entrepreneur to the headquarters of the EFCC and sought to hand him over to the EFCC, attempting to frustrate the execution of the court order.

According to our sources, the EFCC authorities have refused to take over the matter.

“They’ve made it clear to the police that it should obey the court order to release Michael”, our source volunteered. 

Findings showed that Michael is reported to have been moved from a detention facility in Maitama, where he had been kept for the past three weeks to another facility.