Abuja court frees Crypto entrepreneur Blord on bail, restricts travel

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to embattled cryptocurrency entrepreneur Linus Williams Ifejirika, widely known as Blord, bringing relief after days of uncertainty over his detention.

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, confirmed the development on Friday, saying the court approved bail on self-recognizance.

The ruling means Blord was released on the basis of his personal undertaking, without the need for sureties or additional conditions typically attached to bail in such cases.

The development comes after growing public attention around his arrest and legal proceedings, which had sparked reactions across social media and among digital finance stakeholders.

“Bail has been granted to Linus Williams, popularly known as @mrblordofficial BLORD, on self-recognizance. The court, however, ordered that he deposit his international passport as part of the bail conditions,” Sowore said.

Earlier, Sowore disclosed his presence at the court during the bail hearing, expressing cautious optimism over the outcome.

“Today at the Federal High Court in Abuja, I am present for the bail hearing of Linus Williams, widely known as BLORD. As proceedings unfold, we brace ourselves for the worst while still holding on to hope for the best outcome,” he wrote.

The bail ruling comes amid a storm of controversy involving the Nigeria Police Force, particularly officers attached to the National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC) in Abuja, who have been accused of misconduct and abuse of power in the handling of B-Lord’s detention.

Very Nigerian had earlier reported that some police officers allegedly colluded with controversial social media activist, Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, to humiliate the detained businessman.

According to multiple police sources, a detention video of Blord was allegedly leaked to the activist in what insiders described as a deliberate attempt to ridicule him.

“One of the officers attached to the National Cybercrime Centre, Abuja, in a brazen act of misconduct, obtained and leaked a detention video of B-Lord to Martins Otse… for the sole purpose of humiliating and dehumanising him,” a senior police source had told Very Nigerian.

Sources further alleged that the video was recorded under questionable conditions, with officers reportedly staging the scene.

“The video showed Blord, obviously fatigued from the long trip, being forcefully awakened by police officers who deliberately rattled his cell gate, an act clearly staged to create degrading content. It was cruelty, intimidation, and collusion at its best,” another source said.

The scandal deepened with claims that certain officers within the NCCC, including an investigating officer identified as Inspector Sule, were involved in a coordinated effort with the activist.

“There is strong indication that certain officers… had entered into a deliberate arrangement with VeryDarkMan to punish Blord over a personal dispute,” a top-ranking officer alleged.

“The plan was simple and sinister, to turn detention into a spectacle, strip a detainee of dignity, and weaponise state custody for public humiliation.”

Sources also revealed that the plan was disrupted after the court declined to remand Blord at the NCCC facility, opting instead to send him to the Kuje Correctional Centre.

“The entire arrangement collapsed when the court refused to send him back to the NCCC. Instead, he was remanded in Kuje prison, which disrupted whatever plans had been put in place,” a source added.

Eyewitnesses further claimed that VeryDarkMan trailed the prison van conveying Blord to Kuje, livestreaming the journey and mocking the detained entrepreneur.

“He followed the prison van from the court to Kuje prison, livestreaming the movement and ridiculing Blord. It turned a lawful state process into a public spectacle,” another source said.

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