Bayelsa court orders IGP Egbetokun to appear over N649M SWAT debt

The Nembe Division of Bayelsa High Court, on Wednesday, ordered the Inspector-General of Police, (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun to appear before it within 42 days, in connection with the N649 million accommodation debt suit for the Police SWAT team.

The court presided over by Justice T. Y. Abasi demanded the appearance of the IGP following the suit filed by Mr Darius Obienem, the owner of Euphemie Motel in Opu-Nembe, Bayelsa.

The court threatened that failure of the IGP and the two other respondents: the Nigerian Police and the Police Service Commission to make an appearance, personally or through a legal practitioner, judgement would be entered in their absence.

The hotel owner, Obienem had filed a suit over an alleged refusal of the respondents to settle the accommodation debt incurred by the Police SWAT team deployed from Aug. 12, 2023, to Oct. 3, 202,4 in Opu-Nembe.

The SWAT team deployed to the Opu Nembe community had allegedly occupied the Motel, turning it into their operational base without the due permission of the owners.

The SWAT team were allegedly drafted to the area at the request of Mr Timipre Sylva, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the Governorship flagbearer of APC in the 2023 general elections.

The claimant prayed to the court for a declaration that the defendants forcefully entered and allegedly took over the entire claimant’s business premises on Aug. 12, 2023, as illegal.

“A declaration that the claimants are entitled to the sum of N25,000 per night per room for rooms contained therein from the 12th of August, 2023 to the 3rd of October, 2024 when the defendants vacated the claimant’s premises.

“A declaration that the claimant is entitled to the sum of N100,000 only per conference hall per day for the three conference halls contained therein from the 12th of August, 2023 to the 3rd of October, 2024 when the defendant vacated the claimant’s business premises.

“A declaration that the claimants are entitled to the sum of N649,450,000 for the period between 12th of August, 2023 and 3rd of October, 2024.”

“An order of this court mandating the defendants to pay the defendant the sum of N649,450,000 for the period between 12th of August, 2023 to 3rd of October, 2024.

“And the sum of N200,000,000 against the defendants for the damages done to the claimant as a result of their forceful entry and occupying same for a period well over 13 months and loss of revenue accruing from bar and restaurant,” he said.