The Nigeria Police Force has filed a motion to withdraw its earlier counter-affidavit opposing the bail application of cryptocurrency entrepreneur Linus Williams Ifejirika, popularly known as B-Lord.
However, proceedings in the case were stalled on Tuesday due to the absence of the presiding judge at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Ifejirika, 27, is currently in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre following his arraignment on April 1 before Justice R.N. Ofili-Ajumogobia on a six-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime, impersonation, and fraud.
His legal team had earlier sought an expedited hearing of his bail application, urging the Chief Judge to assign a vacation judge to hear the matter earlier than the scheduled trial date of April 27, 2026.
The charges against him stem from allegations that he fraudulently used the identity of social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, to promote his business ventures, including the Billpoint application.
Prosecutors alleged that Ifejirika falsely presented the influencer as endorsing his platform and misled the public through promotional content, including claims of appearances at business events.
Additional allegations include the creation of fake digital records and facilitating the spread of misleading information for financial gain, in violation of the Cybercrime Act and the Advance Fee Fraud Act.
The defendant has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
With the police now seeking to withdraw their opposition to bail, attention is expected to shift to the court’s next sitting, where the application may be reconsidered once proceedings resume.