Freight-Forwarder denies fraud allegations, says dispute is commercial

… threatens legal action over alleged defamation

A Licensed Customs Clearing and Freight-Forwarding agent, Mr. Fawole Abiola Aremu has urged the general public, his clients, and business associates to disregard the “false and calculated” narratives currently circulating online.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, on Thursday, Aremu said neither his reputation nor that of any serving or retired Customs officer was properly implicated in his private contractual disagreement with one Dr. Israel Agimor Eshanekpe or Agimor Group Limited.

The Freight-Forwarder explained that ” In July 2026, while arranging finance for the clearance of ten containers with the Nigeria Customs Service, I was introduced to one Dr. Israel Agimor Eshanekpe. Following discussions, we executed a formal Memorandum of Understanding which was signed before witnesses. Documentary copy is available. Under the MoU terms, Dr. Eshanekpe undertook to provide the full sum of ₦200,000,000 (Two Hundred Million Naira) to finance the transaction. Upon successful completion, his capital was to be repaid and profits shared in a 70:30 ratio in his favour. This is contrary to the agreed amount, Dr. Eshanekpe advanced only ₦96,000,000 (Ninety-Six Million Naira) and undertook to remit the balance later. At his request, we met at Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters so that he could verify the authenticity of the transaction. There, I introduced him to two individuals assisting with the facilitation.

He stressed that at no time did he introduce Dr. Eshanekpe to any Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, saying the narrative that has repeatedly featured on social media was untrue and unfounded.

Aremu explained “Three days after the partial payment, Dr. Eshanekpe contacted me to declare that he no longer wished to proceed. He falsely alleged that I was a “fraudster,” and claimed to have verified with security officials that the containers did not exist, and began circulating defamatory messages to my associates. He demanded an immediate refund of the entire sum deposited. I explained carefully that the transaction was genuine. Despite these explanations, he refused to exercise patience. Under sustained pressure and threats, I sourced funds and refunded ₦16,000,000 (Sixteen Million Naira), with an undertaking to settle the balance subsequently.

“In September 2026, counsel representing the Martins Vincent Otse Initiative contacted me regarding the same allegation. I denied any fraud and confirmed that the matter was a contractual commercial relationship. A formal settlement agreement facilitated by the Initiative was subsequently presented; which I signed without hesitation. Documentary evidence is available.  The agreement acknowledged the ₦16,000,000 already refunded and recorded an outstanding balance of ₦80,000,000 (Eighty Million Naira), which I undertook to pay on or before 2 October 2026”

He added “Notwithstanding these constraints, I made a further payment of ₦14,000,000 (Fourteen Million Naira) in good faith, bringing the total refunded sum to ₦30,000,000 (Thirty Million Naira). Documentary proof of both payments is available. When I was unable to complete the balance by the exact date stipulated under those constrained circumstances, VeryDarkMan proceeded online on 8 October 2026 to label me a fraudster and to assert, incorrectly, that an Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs had been party to the arrangement. Also surprisingly, he failed to mention that I refunded sum of ₦30,000,000 as at the time he made the wild allegations”.

Aremu restated that no Assistant Comptroller-General or any serving officer of the NCS was involved at any stage, stating that the repeated invocation of that claim serves only to heighten sensationalism and amplify the reputational damage that had been threatened in advance.

“This remains a civil commercial dispute between business partners—one that has been subjected to external pressure and trial by media. I remain fully committed to discharging all outstanding financial obligations in a responsible manner. At the same time, I have instructed my legal counsel to examine the full legal implications of the defamatory publications”, said Aremu.