A large protest broke out on Wednesday at the FCT High Court in Jabi, Abuja. Many angry investors gathered, demanding justice over the Afriq Arbitrage System (AAS) scandal. They accused a man named Abayomi Oluwasesan of stealing $87 million from the company and asked the court to free the company’s founder, Jesam Michael, who is currently in Kuje prison.
The protest went viral online as videos showed people holding signs and shouting slogans like “Abayomi Is the Thief!” and “Where Is Our $87 Million?” They were not just asking for Jesam’s release—they wanted action against the real culprit.
Many of the protesters believe that Jesam Michael is not to blame for the missing money. They said he handed over the company to Abayomi while recovering from a health issue. But instead of running it properly, Abayomi allegedly locked Jesam out of the system and started taking money for himself.
One investor, Albert Churchill, said Abayomi took control of everything, used the money to buy expensive cars and houses, and later disappeared from Lagos. This betrayal, he said, is what caused the company’s downfall.
Another investor, Mr. Chibuzor, said Abayomi returned a few things under a plea deal but still controls most of the stolen money, hidden in crypto wallets. He added that Abayomi even confessed to the theft, so it’s unfair that Jesam is in jail while Abayomi walks free.
Public opinion shifted after the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) posted about Jesam’s court case on June 13. The post drew over 1,000 comments—almost all supporting Jesam and calling for Abayomi to be held responsible instead.
The protest was not just about Jesam, the protesters said—it was about trust in Nigeria’s justice system. They want the real thief to be punished and investors’ money returned. One of the protest leaders, Tina Adebayo, said Jesam built something useful with technology, but Abayomi destroyed it. She said it’s now up to the legal system to make things right.
As court hearings continue, Nigerians are watching closely. Many are asking whether law enforcement will take action against Abayomi just like they did with Jesam. For AAS investors, this fight is just getting started.
