The detention of Mr. Gabriel Olayinka, Chief Executive Officer of SuperCash, a private money-lending enterprise, has sparked public outcry over alleged abuse of judicial authority and misapplication of the law regarding debt recovery in Taraba State.
Mr. Olayinka is currently being held in custody under what some civil rights observers have described as “arbitrary conditions and unlawful detention” following a financial dispute with Mr. Jibrin Danladi, Executive Director (Finance) of the Taraba State High Court.
Mr. Danladi alleges that he invested ₦300 million in SuperCash, which provided loans to individuals and small businesses across the state. According to sources familiar with the transaction, Olayinka had previously repaid over ₦100 million before the business ran into challenges due to widespread defaults by SuperCash borrowers.
Rather than pursue civil recovery channels, critics claim Mr. Danladi allegedly leveraged his influence within the judiciary to secure the arrest and detention of Mr. Olayinka through an Area Court in Jalingo, presided over by Judge Lawan Jika.
Bail conditions reportedly imposed by the court include the payment of ₦200 million in cash and the provision of two Federal Government permanent secretaries owning landed properties valued at ₦500 million in Jalingo — a total of ₦1 billion in sureties. Legal experts and advocacy groups say such bail terms are excessive and unconstitutional.
“This is a clear case of civil debt being criminalized, which contravenes settled principles of Nigerian law,” said a legal analyst who asked not to be named. “The Supreme Court in multiple cases, including Nwoboshi v. FRN, has ruled that inability to repay debt is not a criminal offence.”
Meanwhile, a group identifying as “Anonymous” has issued a public statement demanding Mr. Olayinka’s immediate release, citing human rights violations and judicial overreach. The statement questions the source of Mr. Danladi’s investment funds and urges authorities to investigate potential abuse of office.
Efforts to reach both Mr. Danladi and the Area Court for official comment were unsuccessful as of the time of this report.
The matter has reignited debate about the misuse of judicial power and the urgent need for reforms in Nigeria’s justice system, particularly around the enforcement of debt-related civil claims.
