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Court Approves Arrest, Detention Of Six CBEX Promoters

April 24, 2025 by admin

The Federal High Court in Abuja has approved the request of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to arrest and detain six promoters of Crypto Bridge Exchange over an alleged investment fraud amounting to over $1 billion. Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order on Thursday after listening to submissions from the EFCC’s lawyer, Fadila Yusuf. The six individuals named in the ex parte motion filed on April 23 are Adefowora Olanipekun, Adefowora Oluwanisola, Emmanuel Uko, Seyi Oloyede, Avwerosuo Otorudo, and Chukwuebuka Ehirim. The EFCC sought the court’s permission to arrest and keep the suspects in custody while investigations continue and possible charges are prepared. In the motion, the EFCC asked for two things: permission to issue arrest warrants and an order to remand the suspects in EFCC custody during the investigation. Yusuf told the court, “The defendants are at large, and a warrant of arrest is required to bring them in for proper investigation and prosecution.” She explained that the EFCC had received intelligence linking the suspects to criminal acts and that the commission had a constitutional duty to investigate and enforce the law. According to an affidavit submitted with the motion, the EFCC said it received information in April 2025 about a fraudulent investment scheme involving the suspects. The commission said the fraud was carried out through ST Technologies International Limited, in partnership with CBEX. The suspects were accused of promoting CBEX, convincing people to invest in cryptocurrency through their platform while promising extremely high returns, up to 100%. “The victims were required to convert their digital assets into USDT, a stablecoin, and deposit them into the suspects’ cryptocurrency wallets,” the affidavit stated. At first, investors could monitor their investments through the CBEX platform. But after over $1 billion was deposited, the platform was suddenly shut down, and victims could no longer access their funds. Further investigations revealed that although ST Technologies was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, it was not licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission to run any investment business. The EFCC also told the court that the suspects had abandoned their known addresses in Lagos and Ogun states. The agency said, “A warrant of arrest is necessary to place the suspects on a red watch list and ensure they are apprehended to face justice.” The commission added that its investigation had shown a clear case of fraud and urged the court to grant the application in the interest of justice. After reviewing the case, Justice Nwite ruled, “I have listened to the submission of learned counsel for the applicant. “I have also examined the affidavit evidence and the exhibits attached, along with the written address. “I am of the view, and I so hold, that the application is meritorious. Consequently, the application is granted as prayed.”

Natasha Sues Akpabio For Defamation, Demands N100.3bn Damages

February 25, 2025 by admin

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a lawsuit against the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for alleged defamation. The PUNCH reports that Akpoti-Uduaghan raised concerns after her Senate seat was reassigned following a reshuffle triggered by opposition members switching to the majority wing. She resisted the relocation, leading to a confrontation between her and the Senate President. However, in a suit filed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court on 25 February 2025, the President of the Senate, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Senior Legislative Aide to the Senate President, Mfon Patrick, were listed as the second and third defendants. In the suit, marked CV/737/25, Akpoti-Uduaghan, through her lawyer, Victor Giwa, alleged that defamatory statements were made by the Senate President and published by his aide on Facebook. According to him, the post, titled “Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?” included a statement suggesting that Akpoti-Uduaghan believed being a lawmaker was only about “pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers.” Giwa argued that the statement was defamatory, provocative, and disparaging, lowering his client’s dignity in the eyes of her colleagues and the public. He stated, “A DECLARATION that the words, ‘It is bottled anger by the Kogi lawmaker, who knows nothing about legislative rules. She thinks being a lawmaker is all about pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers,’ used and written by the third defendant at the prompting of the first and second defendants, is defamatory and intended to cause public opprobrium and disaffection toward the claimant.” She also urged the court to restrain the defendants and their associates from making further defamatory statements against her on any platform. “AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the defendants, whether acting by themselves or through their agents, privies, assigns, or associates, from further publishing or causing to be published the said defamatory words or any similar publications about the claimant on social media or in any other manner capable of defaming her,” she stated. Furthermore, Akpoti-Uduaghan asked the court to order the defendants to pay her N100 billion in general damages and N300 million as litigation costs. “An order for the payment of the sum of N100,000,000,000 as general damages. An order for the payment of the sum of N300,000,000 as the cost of action,” she prayed. Punch

JUSUN Threatens Strike, Issues FG Seven-Day Notice

February 13, 2025 by admin

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to implement the new national minimum wage and other benefits or face an indefinite strike. This ultimatum was conveyed in a communiqué released on Wednesday after an emergency meeting held at the JUSUN Secretariat in Abuja. According to the communiqué, the seven-day ultimatum begins on Thursday, February 13, 2025, and ends on February 19, 2025. JUSUN warned that failure by the Federal Government to meet their demands within this timeframe will result in an indefinite strike starting February 20, 2025. The union is demanding the full implementation of the new national minimum wage of N77,000 and other benefits for judicial workers. JUSUN has been at loggerheads with the Federal Government over the non-implementation of the new minimum wage for judicial workers, even though other public sector workers have begun receiving the revised wage. The workers had previously given the government a 21-day ultimatum to address their demands, but no action was taken during that period. The communiqué reads, “The meeting principally centered on the expiration of the twenty-one (21) day ultimatum issued to all Heads of Federal Courts, FCT Courts, and Judicial Bodies. “That after exhaustive deliberations, the following resolution was reached. That an additional seven (7) days’ notice is hereby given for the full implementation of the subject matter in line with relevant guidelines governing industrial disputes and the urgent intervention of the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun. “That the seven (7) days commence on Thursday, February 13, 2025, and ends on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. “That failure to implement our demands within this stipulated time frame will mean the union cannot guarantee industrial harmony. Consequently, the strike will commence indefinitely from Thursday, February 20, 2025.” JUSUN has urged the Federal Government to act swiftly to prevent a disruption of judicial activities nationwide. Punch

Two-Year Jail Term Awaits Men Profiting From Prostitution, Lawyer Warns

February 2, 2025 by admin

A Nigerian lawyer and content creator, Timi Agbaje, has warned that any man who patronises a prostitute, lives off prostitution earnings, or frequently associates with prostitutes is committing a criminal offence punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment under Nigerian law. In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Agbaje cited Sections 223 and 225A of the Criminal Code Act, which criminalise various forms of involvement in prostitution, including procurement, facilitation, and financial gain. According to the law, anyone who procures a girl or woman under 18 for unlawful sexual relations, induces a woman to become a common prostitute, arranges for her to leave Nigeria for prostitution, or relocates her within the country for the same purpose is guilty of a misdemeanour and could face two years’ imprisonment. Agbaje said, “Sections 223 and 225 of the Criminal Code state that any man who procures a woman or girl as a prostitute or an inmate in a brothel—that is, someone collecting a commission on another person’s body count—or a man who lives on the earnings of prostitution, resides with a prostitute, or habitually associates with prostitutes is guilty of an offence. “If the girl is a ‘hook-up’ girl and you give her access to your estate or direct her to your house, just as you are granting her access to your home, we will grant you access to prison.” Reacting to Agbaje’s statement, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, supported the claim, stating, “You see that end part? She is the victim; you are the criminal. It is sadly true.” Legal Implications of Prostitution in Nigeria Section 223 of the Criminal Code Act in Nigeria states that “Any person who: (1) procures a girl or woman who is under the age of eighteen years to have unlawful carnal connection with any other person or persons either in Nigeria or elsewhere; or (2) procures a woman or girl to become a common prostitute either in Nigeria or elsewhere; or (3) procures a woman or girl to leave Nigeria with the intent that she may become an inmate of a brothel elsewhere; or (4) procures a woman or girl to leave her usual place of abode in Nigeria, with the intent that she may, for the purposes of prostitution, become an inmate of a brothel either in Nigeria or elsewhere, is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for two years. Section 225A of the Criminal Code Act in Nigeria states that: (1) Every male person who knowingly lives wholly or in part on the earnings of prostitution, or persistently solicits or importunes for immoral purposes in any public place, is liable to imprisonment for two years. In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, in addition to any term of imprisonment awarded, he shall also be liable to caning.” (2) Any magistrate who is satisfied, by evidence upon oath, that there is reason to suspect that any premises are being used by a female for prostitution, and that any male person residing in or frequenting the premises is living wholly or partly on the prostitute’s earnings, may issue a warrant authorising law enforcement officers to enter and search the premises and arrest the male suspect. (3) If a male person is proved to live with or habitually associate with a prostitute or is shown to exercise control, direction, or influence over her movements in a way that suggests he is aiding, abetting, or compelling her prostitution, he shall be deemed to be knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution unless he can prove otherwise in court. (4) Any female who, for financial gain, exercises control, direction, or influence over the movements of a prostitute in a way that suggests she is aiding, abetting, or compelling prostitution is liable to imprisonment for two years.” Punch

Court Approves Arrest, Detention Of Six CBEX Promoters

Natasha Sues Akpabio For Defamation, Demands N100.3bn Damages

JUSUN Threatens Strike, Issues FG Seven-Day Notice

Two-Year Jail Term Awaits Men Profiting From Prostitution, Lawyer Warns

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