When reports emerged that Jesam Michael, the embattled CEO of Afriq Arbitrage System Limited, had been secretly detained by the Inspector General of Police Special Investigation Unit (IGP-SIU), I embarked on an investigative mission to verify his whereabouts. What was supposed to be a routine fact-finding visit quickly turned into an ordeal, as I found myself detained for merely asking questions.
Armed with credible intelligence that Jesam Michael was being held at Maitama Police Division, I arrived at the facility hoping to confirm his detention. Upon inquiry, the officers on duty grew visibly uncomfortable. They initially denied having him in custody, but their body language suggested otherwise. Pressing further, I questioned why an individual accused of financial misconduct was being held in a police station for weeks without taking him to court to face trial.
Rather than providing answers, the officers became hostile. Moments later, I was ordered to “follow them inside.” Before I could fully grasp the situation, my phone was confiscated, and I was informed that I was being detained for “interfering with an ongoing investigation.”
Inside the Station: A Web of Suspicion and Intimidation
Inside the station, the atmosphere was tense. I observed officers whispering among themselves, making discreet calls, and exchanging wary glances. It became clear that Jesam Michael’s detention was a sensitive issue. I demanded to know the reason for my arrest, but the officers remained evasive. Instead, I was interrogated about my sources, my interest in the case, and whether I was working for someone.
At one point, an officer warned that my curiosity was “dangerous” and advised me to drop the matter. After several hours of back-and-forth, they forcefully searched my phone for any recordings or photos. Frustrated by my resistance, they eventually relented, returned my belongings, and allowed me to leave—with a stern warning to “be careful.”
My brief detention only reinforced what multiple sources had already suggested: Jesam Michael’s case is not just a routine financial crime investigation. It is entangled in a web of alleged corruption, power struggles, and a cover-up within the highest ranks of the IGP-SIU.
The Woman at the Center of the Controversy
Sources within the unit claim that CSP Taiwo Adewunmi Oyewale, the officer in charge of the IGP-SIU, is personally involved with Jesam Michael and has gone to great lengths to suppress him. Allegations against her include extortion, abuse of power, and using the Inspector General of Police’s (IGP) name to intimidate and silence both suspects and whistleblowers.
Sources further allege that CSP Taiwo Adewunmi Oyewale and Jesam Michael were romantically involved, and their relationship issues led to his current predicament. She is reportedly using IPO Fasasi Abiodun as a tool to punish him—without taking him to court, denying him access to lawyers and journalists, and allegedly even orchestrating an attempt to poison him after he refused to pay an ₦80 million demand from the police.
A senior police source, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed, “She demands lands, properties, and millions in dollars from suspects, telling them outright that the ‘gift’ is going directly to the IGP. Whether that is true or not, we don’t know, but she uses that claim to instill fear.”
Another source alleged that the Mercedes-Benz CSP Oyewale drives was originally owned by Jesam Michael and that their affair turned sour after she demanded a plot of land from him. When he refused, she reportedly resorted to using her position to oppress him.
An officer who pled anonymity disclosed, “She lives in a house secured for her by Jesam Michael. Now, she is running a squad that eliminates critics. If Jesam decides to expose his dealings with her, the entire police force will be forced to explain.”
IGP-SIU: A Once-Respected Unit Now Marred by Corruption
Under the previous leadership of ACP Effiong Asuquo, the IGP-SIU had no reported cases of corruption. However, since CSP Oyewale took over, multiple complaints have surfaced regarding bribery, arrogance, and a justice system manipulated in favor of the highest bidder.
“The IGP-SIU has turned into an auction house,” said a female investigator at the Force Intelligence Department (FID). “Whoever pays the most gets the most favorable outcome. The purpose of establishing the unit has been completely defeated.”
Perhaps the most puzzling aspect of this scandal is the silence of the Inspector General of Police. Despite mounting evidence and growing dissent within the force, no action has been taken against CSP Oyewale. Some officers speculate that she has personal leverage over the IGP, while others believe he is simply unwilling to acknowledge the corruption festering under his leadership.
One officer remarked, “Only God knows what she has on the IGP. How does she keep getting away with all this? She even brags about writing for him. Since when does an arrogant junior officer write for a PhD holder?”
A Justice System Hijacked by the Powerful
The events surrounding Jesam Michael’s detention—and my own brief arrest—raise serious concerns about the state of Nigeria’s law enforcement. If journalists can be detained for merely asking questions, what happens to ordinary Nigerians who dare to seek justice?
The IGP-SIU, once a respected investigative unit, now appears to be a tool for personal enrichment and political power play. Until the police leadership takes decisive action, Nigerians will continue to witness a system where the powerful manipulate justice while whistleblowers and truth-seekers face intimidation and suppression.
For now, Jesam Michael remains in custody under suspicious circumstances without any charges or any evidence of crime and the woman at the center of it all continues to operate with impunity. But as the saying goes, “One day, the bush meat will catch the hunter.”
The real question is: when will that day come?
CSP Taiwo is a very greedy human being. she does not treat her junior officers well. she talks to them anyhow. all she’s after is money money money. i heard that she suspended two of the officer from SIU. IG of Police should better do something.