A Nigerian couple, Mr Adetunji Conde and Mrs Ajoke Amudat Conde, are set to be arraigned in court on Monday over a criminal case linked to a contractual dispute with Justice Mabel Segun-Bello.
The dispute stems from a N100 million investment made by Justice Segun-Bello in their company, Elizabeth and Esther Nig. Ltd.
According to a court document obtained by SaharaReporters, the Inspector General of Police is the plaintiff in the case, while Adetunji and Ajoke are the defendants. The arraignment is scheduled for 9:00 AM at Court 18, Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 2.
The hearing notice read, “If either party desire to postpone the hearing he must apply to the court as soon as possible for that purpose; and if the application is based on any matter of fact, he must be prepared to give proof of those facts.”
The parties are required to present all relevant evidence, whether through witnesses or documents, to support their claims or challenge those of their opponents.
A source familiar with the case alleged that Justice Mabel, who invested N100 million in a Ponzi scheme, orchestrated the arraignment of the couple before magistrates linked to her.
“They are scheduled to appear in court on Monday for arraignment,” the source added.
Background
On March 25, SaharaReporters reported that the couple faced criminal prosecution for alleged misappropriation and breach of trust. However, the couple has denied the allegations, asserting their innocence.
In response, they petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, citing unlawful criminalization, malicious prosecution, and abuse of police authority.
“Despite this matter being purely a civil contractual dispute, Justice Mabel Segun-Bello, Tobi Bolarin, and Gbenga Ekundayo have manipulated law enforcement, used threats, and weaponised the police to intimidate and oppress Mr. Adetunji Conde and his wife, Mrs. Ajoke Amudat Conde,” the petition noted.
According to the petition, Justice Mabel Segun-Bello invested N100 million into the couple’s company, Elizabeth and Esther Nig Ltd., through Tobi Bolarin and Gbenga Ekundayo. The petition noted that the investment was made with clear contractual agreements, which the couple claimed they had not breached.
The couple’s lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), argued that the criminal prosecution is an act of impunity, as contractual disputes cannot be criminalised, according to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“The use of state resources for private vendettas undermines public trust in law enforcement and must be sanctioned,” Falana & Falana’s Chambers stated.
Falana also alleged that Justice Mabel Segun-Bello had manipulated law enforcement and used threats to intimidate and oppress the couple.
“Rather than seeking legal redress through appropriate civil channels to resolve any contractual claims, Justice Mabel Segun-Bello, Tobi Bolarin, and Gbenga Ekundayo have resorted to using the police as an instrument of coercion and oppression,” the petition noted.
The petition further stated that Mrs. Conde was unlawfully arrested, detained, and charged, despite having no connection to the transaction.
“Mrs. Ajoke Amudat Conde, who is not a party to the contract, was unlawfully arrested, detained, and charged, constituting a clear violation of her constitutional rights,” it said.
In their petition, the couple demands Mrs. Conde’s immediate discharge and the withdrawal of the criminal charges against Mr. Conde, citing that the case is purely civil and should be treated as such.
“Her continued prosecution is unlawful and must be halted immediately. The withdrawal of the criminal charges against Mr. Adetunji Conde, as the case is purely civil and should be treated as such,” it said.
The couple had also written to the Honourable Judge, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory; the Chief Registrar, Federal Capital Territory High Court; and the Director, Magistracy, Federal Capital Territory, requesting that the case be reassigned as they had lost confidence in the trial magistrate.
They noted that the events surrounding their case had caused them immense emotional and psychological anguish, adding that they feared that justice might not be served.
The petition said, “In light of alarming developments that threaten the fairness of our trial, we respectfully seek your urgent intervention to reassign our case to another court and appoint a new magistrate to oversee the matter with impartiality.
“Our concerns stem from the troubling decision of the original magistrate in court 14, who, after granting bail, withdrew from the case cause the case had been originally filed and a remand order granted with an extension given from court 18, we were quickly arraigned in court 14 cause the police were under pressure to grant us bail, the bail conditions are not favourable to Justice Mabel Segun-Bello, we have also been told that the sureties would be blackmailed in any way my this magistrate in court 18 to withdraw under undue pressure.
“Justice Mabel Segun-Bello has sent a request for an agreement of liquidation that’s one-sided without recourse to the court, which served as a subtle blackmail. This has only deepened our fear that the course of justice is being manipulated.
“Moreover, we are gravely concerned about the role of Justice Mabel Segun Bello, whose undue influence has transformed what was initially a civil dispute into a criminal case.
“Her actions—marked by personal bias and misuse of power—have led to our wrongful detention for over a month, causing irreparable harm to our lives and families. Furthermore, she has extended this campaign of intimidation to innocent third parties, including Ajoke and Adetunji Conde, in what appears to be a deliberate attempt to coerce and punish us unjustly.
“At the heart of this dispute lies a business agreement, where Mr. Adetunji Conde had committed to repaying an investment within a year. Despite this, Justice Bello and her associates have disregarded the agreed-upon terms, demanding immediate repayment and using legal channels as a tool of oppression rather than justice. Such actions set a dangerous precedent—where influence, rather than law, dictates judicial outcomes.
“The continued handling of this case under the current magistrate fills us with profound fear. We have already endured unjust imprisonment and remain at risk of further victimisation. Justice Bello has openly vowed to see us back in prison by 2025, reinforcing our belief that this court will not afford us a fair hearing.
“Even more concerning is the baseless inclusion of Mrs. Ajoke Conde, who has no executive role in the business, yet finds herself ensnared in this legal battle for no justifiable reason. Justice Mabel Segun Bello has bragged that she ran the Magistrate court before and her bidding would be carried out.”
Source: Sahara Reporters