By Onome Oghenetega
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday granted an order restraining the Inspector-General of Police and the Delta State Commissioner of Police from arresting a former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi.
The police had also on Wednesday declared Gbagi, who is a governorship aspirant for the 2023 gubernatorial election in Delta wanted over his alleged involved in the stripping of his hotel workers naked.
The police claimed it decided to declared Gbagi wanted after failing to honour police invitation regarding the alleged assault and stripping of workers at his Signatures Hotel in Effurun area of the state.
Following the incident, several civil society groups including human rights lawyers, had demanded for the arrest and prosecution of the former minister under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Management of the hotel alleged to be acting on the order of Olorogun Gbagi had reportedly stripped the workers – three ladies and a man – for allegedly stealing money belonging to the hotel.
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But in an exparte motion filed by Gbagi’s lawyer, Nkem Okoro, on Monday September 28, 2020, prayed the court to restrain the Inspector-General of Police (First Respondent) and the Delta State Police Commissioner (2nd respondent) or their agents from arresting him.
However, Hon. Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo of the Federal High Court Abuja granted the order in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1267/2020, on Wednesday September 30.
A copy of the motion exparte granted by court and sighted by our correspondent on Wednesday reads, “That Order of Interim is hereby made restraining the Respondents, whether by themselves, their agents, employees, or by whatever name called, from threatening to arrest and or detain, and/or from arresting and detaining the Applicant pending the hearing and determination of the Applicant’s application for the enforcement of his fundamental rights
“That Leave is hereby granted to the Applicant to serve Originating processes and all other subsequent processes in this matter, on the 2nd Respondent by substituted means.
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“That Order is hereby made by this Honourable Court directing that the Originating Processes and all other subsequent processes in this matter be served on the 2 Respondent by substituted means to wit:
“(a) By serving the 2 Respondent, through the 1″ Respondent, the Inspector General of the Police, at the office of the Inspector General of Police, Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Area 11, Garki, Abuja. 4.
“That the Respondents are at liberty if they wish to tie their response jointly and/or severally within 14 days.”
Justice Taiwo, however, adjourned the case to the 16 of October, 2020 for hearing.
