Jesame Michael, the chief executive officer of Afriq Arbitrage System (AAS), and some other people have assaulted Maxwell Opara, a legal practitioner.
This happened after the adjournment of a case in which Michael is a nominal complainant by the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday.
Michael had petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), accusing Humble Prince Eta, Donald Michael, Fifeyin Awajumo and Michael Okoh of cyberbullying, according to Symfoni TV.
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He alleged that the four individuals circulated some messages against him on Facebook and WhatsApp in April, with a caption that read, “Jesam Michael Refund Back our Money.”
Justice Joyce Abdumalik is hearing the case filed by the IGP on behalf of Michael against the accused, who were allegedly duped after investing their money in the complainants’ cryptocurrency business. The judge ordered the remand of the accused in the Kuje Correctional Centre until May 13, when the case is slated to come up for hearing again.
Michael runs the AAS as a cryptocurrency platform and has a verified Facebook page in his name with thousands of followers.
Shortly after the court hearing on Monday, Opara decided to address some journalists. A few seconds into his speech, Michael interrupted, and a man behind him pounced on the lawyer.
The video, posted by Synmfoni TV, shows some unnamed people whom Opara referred to as “some of the victims of the cybercrime”. He added that these were among those that invested over $100,000 in the “Ponzi scheme”.
“We are talking of over a $100,000, where someone used a particular platform to dupe Nigerians,” Opara said before the briefing was disrupted.
“Cover him!” He repeatedly told cameramen while the episode lasted. The situation was subdued. Jesam and Okapara eventually addressed journalists separately.
Michael alleged that the accused had been threatening his life and promising to bring him down. He added that his organisation was against aggrieved investors expressing their anger on social media, as they could approach the police or the court to get more information about the case.
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“We are against anyone going to social media, taking up pictures and videos to air out fake stories that Abayomi did not steal money….We keep saying if you think Abayomi didn’t steal the money, why not go to the police station and ask the police officers who investigated the case or go to the court where the case is,” said Michael.
