Abdul Olatunji, wealthy Nigerian, owner of HYDRO CLUB  in South Africa languishes in jail courtesy xenophobic demon in SA government, seeks Tinubu’s intervention

Executive Secretary, Zarephath Aid, Joseph Ahmed said there is now a window of opportunity for the Nigerian government to send lawyers from the Nigerian High Commission to represent Abdul Olatunji since the case has been opened at a South African High Court for trial but no South African lawyers is allowed to represent the Nigerian, worst still his computer, which he uses for research has been withdrawn from him

 

 

Emmanuel Ukudolo I Friday, November 22, 2024

 

LAGOS, Nigeria – It appears xenophobia has come to stay in South Africa. It is eating deeper and deeper everyday into the South African Government, and unless something is done drastically to root it out, the long time friendship between South Africa and Nigeria that dates back to the apartheid era will cease courtesy some demon possessed personality in the South African Government that seems bent on dealing any wealthy Nigerian within the South African enclave.

The demons in government led by South African Prosecutor, Colonel Oscar Williams  Mopedi has sworn to do everything within his power to ensure that he destroys every successful Nigerian businessman and the first gamble led him to HYDRO CLUB, the best South African club owned and run by Mr. Abdul Olatunji, a Nigerian, of Yoruba extraction, from Osun. HYDRO CLUB is in Revonia Santon, Johannesburg.

He is seen as an epitome of the finest personality you could find in a Nigerian in South Africa, well attested to by most South Africans who are recipient of his philanthropic gestures. His club has won various awards in the hospitality industry.

 

HOW IT ALL STARTED

In 2019, a South African, Siphosihle Sithole approached him in his HYDRO CLUB to assist in purchase of large quantity of wine. He decided to assist with his license. This is because only licensed individuals, we are told are authorised to purchase wine in large quantities in South Africa. Sithole appeared to be known to authorities as a notorious personality but the innocent Nigerian club owner.

They were both arrested and detained. Olatunji was refused administrative bail and was eventually put on trumped up charge of theft with Siphosihle Sithole.

They were arraigned at the Palm Ridge Magistrate Court before Magistrate Emmanuel Magamkpa. He was refused bail being a Nigeria while Sithole got his bail. He got some 10 first class lawyers to fight his case but the South African Government, represented by Colonel Oscar Williams Mopedi  prevailed on the lawyers allegedly with threats, forcing all of them to withdraw from the case, citing “strong interference and threats from above”.

Left without a lawyer, Olatunji decided to defend himself. But Mopedi conspired with a friendly lawyer against his wish for plea bargain with Olatunji for a five year term to ease his pain. This lawyer worked in cahoots with the prosecutors –  RONEL DOOKUN, MICHAEL MASEULE and FRANS MHLONGO.

Olatunji agreed under duress but during trial, Colonel Mopedi  acting in cohort with others switched his deal allegedly for Sithole and the pronouncement he got was 15 years instead of 5 years as agreed.

At present Olatunji has no lawyer, even his computer which he uses for research have all been withdrawn from him by officials. Besides, Sithole who has finished his terms has confessed on video that Abdul Olatunji is innocent.

At a press conference in Lagos, Executive Director and Founder, Zarephath Aid,  Mr. Ben Abraham, his Executive Secretary, Joseph Ahmed, and his  brother, Sesan  Abdul appealed for help from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through relevant government organs.

Sesan described Colonel Mopedi as a corrupt person who has squeezed founds from his brother during the case ostensibly to let him off the hook.  He said he reported this demand for 200,000 Rands to a South African Police department  but that the prosecutor was alerted by agents loyal to him in the police when he was to be arrested if he had showed  up to collect the money he demanded.

Sesan said since then his life has been in danger and had to disguise to run away from South Africa. He is afraid that his brother might be killed in prison unless the Nigerian government is able to reach out to him within the fastest possible time. He said his mother died when he heard the news of his brother’s incarceration in South Africa for crimes he did not commit.

Earlier in his speech, Executive Director, Zarephath Aid, Mr. Ben Abraham made it clear that not every Nigerian doing business in South Africa is into fraud. He said the case of Abdul Olatunji is nothing by Xenophobia gone haywire and needs urgent intervention from government.

He said his organisation has written several petitions to the South African High Commission in Nigeria to intimate them of Olatunji’s plight and has also written to Chairman of Nigeria Disapora Commission, NIDCOM and the senate on the matter.

See copy of petition HERE  .

He said his organisation’s focus is on justice sector reform and that over 1000 Nigerians have benefited from their services, adding that the latest were two inmates who have spent 16 years in Kirikiri Correctional Centre without trial.

Also speaking, Executive Secretary, Zarephath Aid, Joseph Ahmed said there is now a window of opportunity for the Nigerian government to send lawyers from the Nigerian High Commission to represent Abdul Olatunji since the case has been opened at a South African High Court for trial but  that no South African lawyers is allowed to represent the Nigerian, worst still the computer, which he uses for research has been withdrawn from him.

Abdul Olatunji formerly ran New York, the best club in Johannesburg but was forced to closed shop due to Xenophobia and influence from competition and had to go into partnership with a white man for another club in Sandton City, Johannesburg before the problem cropped up.

Here is a brief from the petition:

1. ABDUL’s ORDEAL since 2019;
2. He was arrested for an offence he did not commit,
3. Clamped into police custody for almost 1 year,
4. Refused administrative bail at the police Department,
5. Was eventually charged with theft, a COMPLETELY false, trumped up and nebulous allegation in charge No (SCCC110/2019)
6. Was arraigned at the Magistrate court in Palm Ridge Court, Johannesburg presided over by Magistrate EMMANUEL MAGAMKPA.
7. The court refused him bail in furtherance of the ganged up plan by the State.
8. Based on his goodwill and contacts which he had garnered over the years, he got more than 10 lawyers to defend him as constitutionally required but each of the lawyers recused themselves citing STRONG INTERFERENCE AND THREAT FROM ‘ABOVE’
9. In particular, each of the lawyers named one CAPTAIN OSCAR WILLIAMS MOPEDI (now Colonel) as the hatchet man and enforcer of the South African State grand plan to eliminate ABDUL. He is the Investigating Officer (IO).
10. A co-accused defendant Mr. SIPHOSIHLE SITHOLE who was charged with ABDUL was granted bail and later released after a plea bargain agreement.
11. SITHOLE did a video which further CONFIRMED that ABDUL was innocent of the entire charge but a victim of a grand plan.
12. ABDUL was, against his will and constitutional right, given a lawyer who, still in execution of the ‘#DESTROYABDUL’ grand plan, led him to accept a plea bargain agreement in which he ABDUL would plead guilty and get a 5-year sentence (to serve 3 years). This lawyer worked in cahoots with the prosecutors –  RONEL DOOKUN, MICHAEL MASEULE and FRANS MHLONGO.
13. ABDUL accepted the agreement, signed it, pleaded guilty in court but was sentenced to 15 YEARS IN PRISON! Date – 8^th July 2022.
14. ABDUL wants to appeal the sentence and on Wednesday 5^th November 2024, he was granted leave to appeal to the High Court, BUT;
15. NO LAWYER IS ALLOWED TO APPEAR FOR ABDUL OR HANDLE HIS APPEAL.
16. He now appears in court for HIMSELF.