Court gives IGP 42-day ultimatum to appear over N649m debt

A Bayelsa State High Court, Nembe Division, has handed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, 42 days ultimatum to appear in the N649 million hotel lodging debt suit filed by the owner of the Euphemia Motel, in Opu-Nembe Community of Nembe Local Council of the state, Darius Obiene.

According to the court, failure of the IGP and two other respondents, the Nigerian Police and the Police Service Commission (PSC), to make an appearance, personally or through legal representation, may lead to judgment entered in their absence. 

The owner of the hotel, Obiene, had filed a suit against Egbetokun, the Nigerian Police and the Police Service Commission over the refusal to settle the alleged unpaid debt incurred by the Police SWAT team deployed from August 12, 2023, till date.

The debt, according to the report, was incurred by the police special squad identified as SWAT led by one CSP Silas Adebayo for a reported sting operation in Opu Nembe Community during the crisis that erupted before the last governorship elections in the state.

The SWAT team had allegedly invaded the Opu Nembe Community and occupied the Euphemie Motel, turning it into their operational base without due permission from its owners.

It was alleged that the SWAT team was drafted to the area at the request of the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the governorship flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the last election, Timipre Sylva.