The Nembe Division of Bayelsa High Court on Wednesday ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to appear before it within 42 days in connection with a N649 million accommodation debt suit.

The court, presided over by Justice T. Y. Abasi demanded the appearance of the IG following the suit filed by Darius Obienem, the owner of Euphemie Motel in Opu-Nembe, Bayelsa State.

The court threatened that failure of the IG and the two other respondents, the Nigerian Police and the Police Service Commission, to make an appearance, personally or through a legal practitioner, would result in a judgement being entered in their absence.

The hotel owner, Mr Obienem, had filed a suit over an alleged refusal of the respondents to settle the accommodation debt incurred by the Police SWAT team deployed from August 12, 2023, to October 3, 2024, in Opu-Nembe.

The SWAT team deployed to the Opu Nembe community had allegedly occupied the motel, turning it into their operational base without due permission of the owners.

The SWAT team was allegedly drafted to the area on the request of Timipre Sylva, former minister of state for petroleum resources and the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2023 general elections.

The claimant prayed the court for a declaration that the defendants forcefully entered and allegedly took over the entire claimant’s business premises on August 12, 2023 as illegal.

He said, “A declaration that the claimants are entitled to the sum of N25,000 per night per room for rooms contained therein from August 12, 2023, to October3, 2024, when the defendants vacated the claimant’s premises. A declaration that the claimant is entitled to the sum of N100,000 only per conference hall per day for the three conference halls contained therein from August 12, 2023, to October 3, 2024, when the defendants vacated the claimant’s business premises. A declaration that the claimants are entitled to the sum of N649,450,000 for the period between the 12th of August, 2023, and the 3rd of October, 2024.

“An order of this court mandating the defendants to pay the defendant the sum of N649,450,000 for the period between August 12, 2023, and October 3, 2024.

“And the sum of N200,000,000 against the defendants for the damages done to the claimant as a result of their forceful entry and occupying same for a period well over 13 months and loss of revenue accruing from the bar and restaurant.’’

(NAN)