Court Bars Police From Arresting Ex-Minister Gbagi

A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and Delta State Police Commissioner (COP) from arresting or detaining ex-Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo made the order in Suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1267/2020, following Gbagi’s ex parte application for the enforcement of his fundamental rights.

Gbagi’s application followed the controversy generated by the September 18 stripping of four employees of his hotel in Asaba over alleged missing money.

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 that 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.

The alleged stripping incident happened on September 18 and Gbagi, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has since denied any wrongdoing.