Court Bars Police from Arresting OAP Nedu Wazobia in Contract Dispute

The Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained the Inspector-General of Police and other senior officers from arresting, detaining, or interrogating popular on-air personality and comedian, Chinedu Emmanuel Ani, better known as Nedu Wazobia, over a contractual disagreement with business partners.

Justice D.I. Dipeolu granted the interim injunction after hearing an ex-parte application filed by Nedu alongside five others, who claimed their fundamental rights were being threatened.

The order specifically restrains the Inspector-General of Police, the Assistant Inspector-General at Alagbon, and other officers from taking any action against the applicants in connection with a dispute involving the Metropolitan School of Business and Management, Mr. Victor Ariyibi-Oke, and Mrs. Tolulope Ariyibi-Oke.

Also listed as respondents in the suit are CSP Ngozi Braide, ASP Stephen Onihane, and Inspector Echeng Julius. Other applicants include Sarah Williams-Konha, Avalon Okpe, Ada Okpe, Barbara Okwaranobi, and Tokindrumz Pictures and Media Nigeria Ltd.

However, Justice Dipeolu declined a separate request to compel the police to maintain the status quo on all matters relating to the transaction in dispute.

Through their counsel, J.W. Dong, the applicants alleged that the police were being used by the respondents to harass them over what is purely a civil matter. They told the court that the issue had already been investigated for nine months by the X-Squad at Alagbon, which found no criminal liability. The police legal department also advised that the matter was contractual and should be resolved in court.

Despite this, the applicants said, the respondents filed a fresh petition to another police team led by CSP Ngozi Braide, which allegedly ignored earlier findings and subjected them to fresh interrogations. They accused the team of intimidation, unlawful detention, seizure of passports, and even assaulting their former lawyer.

The dispute arose from an educational charity partnership launched in early 2024 to raise school fees for underprivileged students. The respondents allegedly agreed to sponsor a fundraising gala estimated at N83 million, but later demanded a refund of N60 million despite the event’s success.

Following the breakdown of the partnership, the respondents petitioned the police, triggering repeated summons and alleged harassment of Nedu and his associates.

The applicants are asking the court to declare the police actions unconstitutional, order the return of their seized passports, restrain further harassment, and award them N2 billion in damages.

The case has been adjourned for hearing of the substantive motion in the coming weeks.