Court restrains IGP, Delta CP from arresting ex-Minister, Kennet Gbagi

By Ovasa Ogaga,

A Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Taiwo O Taiwo, has retrained the Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Delta State from arresting and detaining ex-Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi.

The court also ordered, the Police IGP or CP, whether by themselves, their agents, employees, or by whatever name called, from threatening to arrest and detaining Gbagi pending the hearing and determination of his application for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.

 

Delta State Police Command has declared had earlier Gbagi wanted over his failure to honour police invitation for over an alleged ordering some of his staffs to be stripped naked and physically assaulted for an alleged case of stealing which took place at Signatious Hotel belonging to him.

 

However, Gbagi approached Abuja High Court through an exparte motion filed 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 (2^nd respondent) or their agents from arresting him.

 

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.

 

The court also granted Gbagi leave to serve the originating processes and all other subsequent processes in the suit on the COP by substituted means.

 

The judge ruled the IGP and the COP, who are first and second respondents, “are at liberty if they wish to file their response jointly and/or severally within 14 days.”

 

He adjourned till October 16 for hearing.

 

Besides the court’s order, Gbagi’s September 28 application had also sought an order directing parties to maintain status quo, pending the hearing and determination of the application for the enforcement of the fundamental rights of the Applicant.