- As Delta State Police Command Declare him wanted…
- Gbagi accuses Delta CP of Demanding for bribe…
From Victor Onovwakpor(The New Diplomat’s Niger Delta Correspondent)
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has granted an exparte order restraining the Nigeria Police from arresting and detaining, Olorgun Kenneth Gbagi, a former Minister of State for Education who is a Warri-based industrialist and owner of Signatious Hotel, Effurun, Delta State.
The court presided over by Hon. Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo, granted the order in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1267/2020 between Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, applicant and Inspector-General of Police and Commissioner of Police, Delta State, as 1st and 2nd respondents respectively.
The Suit which was filed on September 28, 2020 by lawyers representing the applicant, sought for an order restraining the respondents, whether by themselves, their agents, employees, or by whatever name called, from threatening to arrest or detain the applicant pending the hearing and determination of the Applicant’s application.
The court also made an order directing parties to maintain status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the Applicant’s application for the enforcement of the fundamental right of applicant. The matter has been adjourned to October 16, 2020.
The Delta State Police Command had issued a statement through its PPRO, DSP Onome Onovwakpeya, declaring Kenneth Gbagi wanted, adding the he has failed to honour repeated invitations by the Delta State Commissioner of Police.
The statement had called on members of the public with useful information on Gbagi’s whereabout to report to the nearest Police Station. The statement reads: “Sadly and unfortunately, Kenneth Gbagi still failed to report instead he went into the public space to disparage, blackmail and maligned the person of the Commissioner of Police and the Nigeria Police Force, Delta State Command for insisting on investigating him.
“Having failed to honour his promises, DELTA STATE POLICE COMMAND is left with no option than to DECLARE OLOROGUN KENNETH GBAGI WANTED.
“Therefore members of the public with useful information as to his whereabouts are advised to go to the nearest Police Station to report for his immediate arrest and handing him over to the Command for thorough investigation/prosecution.”
Responding to Police declaration and request for his arrest, Gbagi disclosed to The New Diplomat reporter in Warri that both the IGP and the Delta State Commissioner of Police have been served with a Federal High Court order restraining the duo from arresting and detaining him.
He denied being invited by the Police in the first place, saying if it was not a lie then the Police should produce a copy of the invitation.
He accused the Delta State Commissioner of Police of demanding money from him, saying he doesn’t have the kind of money he is demanding. He said: “1. It is a lie, let them Produce any letter sent to me as an invitation
“2. I do not have the kind of money the cp is demanding from me for no offense committed.
“3. If they have any invitation letter let them say it to the world, what has happened is that my refusal to play along and took the option of going to court which court order he is aware of since Monday fueling the attempt to have handcuffed themselves and carried me to prison.
“I do not trust the man, nobody should trust his lies, painful for the society we call ours.
“I can confirm to you that he has the order served on him and the I.G.
“I trust the police but I do not trust Afizu and his game plan.”
Speaking further to The New Diplomat earlier today, Gbagi alleged that there was a plot by the Police to arrest and detain him, saying that the issue at stake has nothing to do with what allegedly took place in his hotel but rather it revolves around efforts to frustrate his 2023 governorship ambition in PDP.
He alleged that what they are doing over his political ambition in PDP now will be done to others who have the interest and capacity to govern the state in 2023 with respect to teh PDP governorship ticket.
Recall that the internal bickering and altercations among political gladiators in PDP over 2023 governorship ticket have threatened to tear the party into shreds in Delta state. Gbagi is one of the most vocal PDP governorship contenders. Others said to be eyeing Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s seat in 2023 include the following PDP gladiators: Olorogun David Edevwie, Okowa’s Chief of Staff; Senator James Manager, a very ranking Senator who is paternally Ijaw and maternally Isoko; Mr Peter Mrakpor, Governor Okowa’s Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Chief James Augoye, Governor Okowa’s Commissioner for Works, ace Speaker Sheriff Oborevwori, current two-term Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Delta state deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro, Olorogun Fred Majemite, a former Commissioner for Special Duties, among others.
The political interest of these political gladiators is said to escalated serious cracks within the political hierarchy of the Delta PDP, triggering altercations and whispering animosities.
Meanwhile, below is the Delta state police command statement as well as the court restraining order allegedly served on Police IGP, Delta CP and their agents.
PRESS RELEASE BY DEKTA POLICE COMMAND
PRESS RELEASE
THE DELTA STATE POLICE COMMAND DECLARE
OLOROGUN KENNETH GBAGI WANTED.
Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi was invited by the Commissioner of Police through the Area Commander Warri and DPO Ebrumede Division on September 25th, 2020 for questioning concerning the alleged dehumanizing manner in which he ordered some of his staffs to be stripped naked and physically assaulted because of an alleged case of stealing which took place at Signatious Hotel belonging to him. Kenneth Gbagi personally and severally called and gave the excuse that he has a burial ceremony of his elder sister on Friday 25/9/2020 in which he is a key player, and asked for time to finish with the ceremony on Sunday, thereafter will report at the State Headquarters on Monday September 28, 2020. These requests were granted on humanitarian ground.
On Monday September, 28th2020, Kenneth Gbagi called the Commissioner of Police to say that he has a court case to attend to, promising to report at the Police Headquarters in Asaba by 3:00pm; again he was equally obliged. On the same date, the Commissioner of Police had to call him at about 5:00pm before the same Kenneth Gbagi said he was on his way to the State HQ Asaba. Sadly and unfortunately Kenneth Gbagi still failed to report instead he went into the public space to disparage, blackmail and maligned the person of the Commissioner of Police and the Nigeria Police Force, Delta State Command for insisting on investigating him.
Having failed to honour his promises, DELTA STATE POLICE COMMAND is left with no option than to DECLARE OLOROGUN KENNETH GBAGI WANTED.
Therefore members of the public with useful information as to his whereabouts are advised to go to the nearest Police Station to report for his immediate arrest and handing him over to the Command for thorough investigation/prosecution.
DSP ONOME ONOVWAKPOYEYA
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
DELTA STATE COMMAND
ASABA.
RESTRAINING ORDER
