IGP asks court to vacate order stopping Gbagi’s arrest over ‘stripping of hotel workers’

Mohammed Adamu, the inspector-general of police, has asked a federal high court to vacate an order restraining officers from arresting or detaining Kenneth Gbagi, a former minister of state for education.

In September 2020, the internet was awash with reports that Gbagi, who is said to be nursing a governorship ambition in 2023, ordered the arrest and stripping of four of his hotel staff for allegedly stealing the sum of N5,000.

On September 30, Gbagi secured an order of the court restraining the IGP and the Delta state commissioner of police from arresting or detaining him.

The former minister had told the court that his fundamental human right was being threatened.

However, responding to Gbagi’s claims in a counter affidavit, the IGP and the state police commissioner, through their lawyer, Lukeman Fagbemi, denied the appellant’s claim of human rights violation.

The respondents told the court that following petitions on allegation of molestation and dehumanisation of the applicant’s staff members, an investigation was launched into the issue.

The respondents added that Gbagi was called over the phone and invited for interrogation.

“While waiting for the applicant to appear as scheduled, the applicant never made himself available. But all of a sudden, the 1 – 3 respondents received court order by way of ex parte made by this honourable court, which was served on the 1 – 3 respondents by the bailiff of this honourable court on the 30th day of September, 2020, restraining the 1-3 respondents from arresting and detaining the applicant in this case, pending the hearing and determination of the originating application filed by the applicant in this case, among other orders contained therein,” the affidavit reads.

“In furtherance of the above, the 1 – 3 respondents have stopped all their actions concerning the issue of lawful invitation, lawful arrest and lawful investigation of the applicant.

“The applicant in this case only wants to use the court system and the instrument of law to stop the 1 – 3 respondents from performing their constitutional duty of investigating the criminal allegation levelled against him.

“This case was brought malafide by the applicant to this honourable court and same is a calculated attempt to waste the precious time of this honourable court.

“The respondents submitted that justice would best be served if the case is dismissed and cost awarded against the applicant.”