MY ACCOUNT OF THE EVENTS LEADING TO MY ARREST BY OFFICERS OF THE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE AT OPAY OFFICE, JABI, ABUJA.

Sometimes in early July, 2026, a client, Mr. Jubril Muhammad Zayyan engaged my services with respect to his Bank accounts at Opay and First Bank which he discovered was restricted as he could not effect any withdrawal nor carry out e-channels services. 

Upon perfecting the brief by paying my legal fees, I promptly wrote letter dated 13th July, 2026 to Opay requesting them to furnish our Law Firm with a copy of the Court Order (if any) which empowered them to place restrictions on our client's account. By the same letter, we also drew their attention to recent judgements of the Federal High Court to the effect that lower courts (Magistrates, Area and Customary Courts) have no jurisdiction to grant orders freezing or placing restrictions on Bank accounts. A copy of my letter is herewith attached.

No response was received from any of the Banks, thus prompting me to visit Opay office in Jabi, Abuja personally with the acknowledged copy of our letter and requesting for a follow up. Upon my arrival at Opay office, the Customer Service Officer who attended to me politely requested me to sit briefly at the reception while he escalates the issue to the Legal Team who will meet with me shortly to attend to me. 

After about 45 minutes of waiting at the reception, I was accosted by a plain clothes Police Officer who brandished his identity card before me and announced that I was under arrest. I was handcuffed at Opay office and taken in a public taxi to Utako Police Station where i was taken to the office of the DPO. 

I showed the DPO my NBA Unity Bar identity card, telling him that I'm a senior Lawyer and i was just following up with a previous letter i wrote to Opay. The DPO said he has no power over the issue and that there is a pending investigation on the account by the Monitoring Unit at Police Force Headquarters and that when I get there, I should explain myself to them. He said they have been notified to come and transfer me out. I was taken to the Counter where I was asked to take off my shoe, belt, trouser, shirt and all personal items which was recorded after which I was put in the cell. 

After about 1 hour, 30 minutes of being in cell, i was brought out and asked to dress up that I am being transferred to Force Headquarters. After dressing up, I was handcuffed again, my phone was confiscated and i was taken to a white colour Honda Discussion Continues vehicle by 2 Police Officers who drove me to Force Headquarters and took me to the office of DSP ADAMU BULANGU in the Monitoring Unit. DSP Adamu Bulangu started barking at me, asking me on what basis am I writing a letter to Opay issuing threats to them on a matter that they are investigating and he accused me of interfering with his investigation. 

He asked some Police Officers to watch over me and he left for over 1 hour to discuss with his superiors. Upon his arrival, he brought out a statement form and asked me write a statement explaining why I am interferring with Police investigation. He said I must produce the suspect before I will be released. 

I had to appeal to DSP Adamu Bulangu to allow me use my phone because some of the information I need to write my statement is contained in my phone. He obliged the request and stepped out briefly. 

 I utilized that window of opportunity to quickly and discreetly send out emergency messages to NBA Unity Bar EXCOS about my threatened incarceration. When DSP Adamu Bulangu arrived back to his office and saw me chatting, he aggressively snatched my phone and started going through all my WhatsApp chats and accused me of reporting his name to other Lawyers. He said he knows a lot of Senior Advocates and that the Lawyers i am reaching out to cannot do anything for me. He immediately started deleting some of the chats I had sent out which were undelivered.

Shortly after writing my statement, the Publicity Secretary of NBA Abuja Branch - Michael Ochili, Esq arrived at the Monitoring Unit to request for my release. The request was denied by DSP Adamu Bulangu and the CP of Monitoring Unit. 

Shortly thereafter, I was asked to follow a Police Officer who will lead me for an interview with their 2i/c but shockingly, i was handcuffed again and conveyed in the same white colour Honda Discussion Continues vehicle and driven to SARS detention centre where I was thrown into detention. 

I remained in detention till almost 10pm when I was called 1to come out that there is an Order to bring me out. I was driven again by the same Officer in the same white colour Honda Discussion Continues vehicle to Force Headquarters but this time without handcuffs. When I arrived, I met with several other colleagues who notified me of all the noble and aggressive efforts they have put up on my release. I was then released on self recognizance and my impounded phone was released to me.

Simon Eromosele, Esq

Rocktrust Solicitors, Abuja

08032672020