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A Lagos-based freight forwarder, Fawole Abiola Aremu, has denied claims linking an Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG) to a disputed N200 million business deal, accusing human rights activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as Verydarkman, of spreading false information about the transaction.
Aremu said the disagreement between him and his business associate, Dr. Israel Agimor Eshanekpe, was a contractual dispute that should be treated as a civil matter, not fraud.
Speaking at a briefing, he maintained that no serving or retired Customs officer was named in the agreement to finance the clearance of containers. He also dismissed claims that the containers involved in the transaction did not exist, insisting that they were still at the terminal and that the clearance process was ongoing. “The containers are genuine and they are still at the terminal. Their existence have been confirmed,” he said.
Aremu explained that 24 containers were involved in the wider transaction, but he agreed with Eshanekpe to process 10 of them.
According to him, the agreement required N200 million to finance the clearance of the 10 containers, but Eshanekpe paid only N96 million and failed to meet the full financial commitment.He said no definite completion date was agreed upon, although both parties discussed a possible timeline of two to three months.
Aremu added that he was surprised when Eshanekpe called three days after their agreement to say he was no longer interested in the deal.
He further disclosed that he had refunded N30 million to Eshanekpe, accusing Verydarkman of leaving out the information in his publications about the dispute.
The freight forwarder said his relationship with Eshanekpe was relatively new, having met him in July through a mutual contact, Mr Osifo, who introduced them.
“Our relationship was relatively new. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a lasting business relationship has taken another direction. I maintain that what exists between Israel and I is purely a contractual agreement and, therefore, a civil matter,” he said.
Defending his professional relationship with the Nigeria Customs Service, Aremu said he had worked with the institution for 23 years without losing money directly to it through auctions or other processes.
“Anyone who says they lost money directly to Customs may not have followed the proper or professional process. In my 23 years of working with Customs, I have never lost a dime to the service. Rather, I have assisted people who had legitimate dealings with Customs and encountered difficulties,” he said.
He disclosed that he had honoured an invitation from Customs over the controversy and was informed that the investigation was still ongoing.
Aremu said the allegations had damaged his reputation and strained his relationship with the service, but expressed confidence in the institution and its personnel.
“Whatever the outcome, Customs is an institution that has contributed to people like us, and I still believe in the integrity of the institution and its personnel,” he added.
He offered to provide bills of lading and container numbers to establish the existence of the containers, while dismissing related allegations involving tramadol.
“Where is the tramadol? When the time comes, the facts will speak for themselves,” he said.
Aremu attributed the delay in resolving the transaction to the controversy surrounding the deal, which he said had affected his reputation and that of the Customs Service.
He expressed willingness to resolve any legitimate outstanding financial obligation through civil means but insisted that he would take steps to clear his name.
“I did not organise this press conference because anybody compelled me to. I did it to clear my name, protect my family and reassure my clients, friends and associates that the allegations published against me do not represent the true picture of what happened,” he said.
Also speaking, Aremu’s lawyer, Babatunde Hamzat, said his client was studying the legal implications of the allegations and might consider legal action to seek redress and compensation for the damage to his reputation.
