N649m Hotel Debt: Appear in court or face judgement, judge tells IGP, police, PSC

A Bayelsa State High Court, Nembe Division, has handed the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, a 42-day ultimatum to make an appearance in the N649 million hotel lodging debt suit filed by the owner of the Euphemie Motel in Opu-Nembe community, Nembe Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, Chief Darius Obiene.

According to the Court, failure of the Police IG and the two other respondents, the Nigerian Police and the Police Service Commission (PSC), to make an appearance, either personally or through a legal practitioner, may result in judgement being entered in their absence.

Obiene, the owner of the hotel, filed a suit against the IGP, the Nigerian Police, and the PSC over the refusal to settle the alleged unpaid debt incurred by the Police SWAT team deployed from August 12, 2023, to date.

The debt, according to reports, was incurred by the Police Special Squad, identified as SWAT, led by CSP Silas Adebayo, during a reported sting operation in the Opu-Nembe community following the crisis that erupted before the last gubernatorial elections in the state.

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

It was alleged that the SWAT team was deployed to the area at the request of the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the gubernatorial standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last election, Chief Timipre Sylva.

In the suit (number BHC/NHC/CV/323/2024), filed by Chief Obiene, the claimant sought a declaration that the defendants’ forceful entry and takeover of the claimant’s business premises situated at Bassambiri town, Opu-Nembe, on August 12, 2023, was illegal.

The claimant also sought a declaration that they are entitled to the sum of N25,000 per night per room for the two rooms contained therein, from August 12, 2023, to October 3, 2024, when the defendants vacated the claimant’s premises.

Additionally, the claimant sought a declaration that they are entitled to N100,000 per day per conference hall for the three conference halls contained in the premises from August 12, 2023, to October 3, 2024, when the defendants vacated.

The claimant further sought a declaration that they are entitled to N649,450,000 for the period between August 12, 2023, and October 3, 2024, as well as an order of the court mandating the defendants to pay the sum of N649,450,000 for the specified period.

Finally, the claimant sought N200,000,000 in damages against the defendants for the harm caused by their forceful entry and occupation of the premises for a period exceeding 13 months, resulting in lost revenue from the bar and restaurant.