As someone entirely unfamiliar with everything here: can ICANN actually do anything to resolve this situation, and I imagine, ideally retrieve the IPs from this unsavoury individual?
> ICANN’s letter references a policy [PDF] that allows it to appoint an emergency replacement for a dysfunctional RIR, and states that ICANN reserves all rights to start the process that would make that possible.
[0]: https://cloudinnovation.org/cloudinnovation-call-AFRINIC-win...
Or it could be a bet that AFRINIC will eventually re-assert control, so the best thing you can do is try to muddy the waters and raise questions about AFRINICs legitimately which will add more procedural muck and further delay control.