The Nembe Division of the Bayelsa High Court has ordered Inspector-General of Police , IGP, Kayode Egbetokun to appear before it within 42 days concerning a N649 million “accommodation debt” lawsuit on Wednesday.

The suit was filed by Mr. Darius Obienem, the owner of Euphemie Motel in Opu-Nembe, Bayelsa, over unpaid accommodation charges incurred during the stay of a Police SWAT team.

The court, presided over by Justice T. Y. Abasi, issued the order following the lawsuit, which alleges that the Nigerian Police and the Police Service Commission refused to settle the debts from the SWAT team’s stay at Obienem’s motel.

The SWAT team had been deployed to the community from August 12, 2023, to October 3, 2024, and allegedly occupied the motel without the owner’s consent, turning it into their operational base. The team’s presence was reportedly at the request of Mr. Timipre Sylva, the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the APC governorship candidate in the 2023 Bayelsa elections.

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The court further warned that if the IGP, Nigerian Police, or Police Service Commission fail to appear whether personally or through legal representation judgment would be made in their absence.

Obienem’s lawsuit seeks several declarations, including a ruling that the defendants “forcefully entered” and “took over” his business premises on August 12, 2023, without permission. The hotel owner is also requesting compensation for the period the SWAT team occupied his property. He seeks “N25,000 per night per room” for the rooms occupied, from August 12, 2023, to October 3, 2024, and “N100,000 per conference hall per day” for the three conference halls used by the team during the same period.

Additionally, Obienem is requesting a total sum of “N649,450,000” for the entire duration of the occupation. He also seeks an order for the defendants to pay this amount and an additional “N200,000,000” in damages for the loss of revenue caused by the “forceful entry” and occupation of his premises, which led to disruptions in his bar and restaurant operations.

This case highlights the legal and financial challenges faced by local businesses due to unapproved use of their properties, as well as the broader implications of police involvement in private affairs without proper agreements.

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