A hotel owner in Bayelsa, known for operating the popular Euphemie Motel in the Opu-Nembe area of the Nembe Local Government, is threatening legal action against Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over an alleged unpaid debt.
This debt reportedly stems from the lodging costs incurred by a Police SWAT team, deployed in the community from August 12, 2023, to the present which sums up to N625 Million.
The hotelier disclosed that the SWAT team, led by CSP Silas Adebayo, utilized Euphemie Motel as their operational base for a sting operation ahead of the recent gubernatorial elections in the state. The team allegedly occupied the hotel without the owners’ consent.
Reports indicate that the SWAT team was deployed at the request of Chief Timipre Sylva, the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the gubernatorial candidate for the All Progressives Congress during the last election.
In a letter dated September 23, 2024, addressed to IGP Egbetokun and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, the hotel’s counsel, Inemoye Brown from R.M. Whyte & Co, detailed the situation. The 50-bedroom hotel charges ₦25,000 per night for lodging and ₦100,000 per day for the use of its two conference rooms, along with various indoor and outdoor relaxation facilities. The police personnel have occupied the premises for over 13 months without payment.
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The petition to the IGP sighted by Vanguard reads in part: “Our client’s business premises and the facilities are almost in complete ruin and a complete renovation is imminent. And it is imperative to restore their facilities to return to normal business.”
“We, therefore, call on the Police IG to use his good office to direct your men and officers, who had forcefully moved into and occupied our client’s hotel as described from 12th of August, 2023 till date and counting in Opu Nembe to immediately vacate within six weeks upon receipt of this correspondence “
“That the sum of N625,000,000 only covering the above period from 12th August 2023 to 12th September 2024 be paid within six weeks upon receipt of the correspondence.
“That if the correspondences from the law chamber, R.M Whyte&Co are treated with levity, we shall approach the court to seek damages done to our client’s property.”
Credible News.ng
