ABUJA: Nigerian oil magnate and founder of Rahmaniya Group, Abdulrahman Bashar, has vowed to challenge a Dubai court sentence, describing it as a pressure tactics to threaten his reputation and business.

A court in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates UAE had sentenced Bashar to one year in prison for an alleged financial crime involving his dealings with CE Energy Company, an oil and gas firm.

But Bashar denied the charges and said he was taking steps to overturn the decision, working with Global law firm, HFW.

The UAE court gave the verdict on 30th January 2025 in Bashar’s absence, a development his team said denied him the opportunity to properly challenge the allegations.

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His lawyers, HFW, in a statement through Bashar on Monday said; “We refer to the criminal proceedings and recent judgment issued in the criminal courts against Mr Bashar on 30th January 2025. First, Mr Bashar rejects any allegation of criminality.

“There are several ongoing civil disputes between CEE and Mr Bashar. The criminal proceedings have, in our view, been filed against Mr Bashar as a pressure tactic in the context of the Commercial Proceedings, to threaten Mr Bashar’s reputation and business.

“Mr Bashar will take all available steps available to him to challenge the judgment.”

Bashar alleged that CEE had used similar heavy handed litigation tactics in the commercial proceedings, including seeking a Worldwide Freezing Order from the English Court against him.

According to him, “The WFO was successfully challenged and discharged. CEE’s appeal to the Court of Appeal was also rejected. The English Court recognized the futility of CEE’s tactics.

“It is worthy of note that Bashar is currently doing his legal business in Nigeria and not in any prison as presumed”, the statement added.