A Delta State High Court 1, sitting in Ughelli, on Thursday January 11, 2023, and presided by Hon. Justice A. A. Onojovwo, has adjourned a suit filed against the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Police Service Commission, Commissioner of Police Delta State, Wale Abass, Ughelli Area Commander, Ademola Adebayo and one Inspector Godspower, over unlawful seizure and detention of a Toyota RAV4 car belonging to Mr Bidemi Omiunu to February 7, 2024.
The case with suit with no: UCH/FR/266/2023, was brought by Mr. E.O.Erhirhi Esq, Counsel to the applicant, Mr. Omiunu Bidemi for arresting and detaining his Toyota RAV4 with registration no: FST 263-EG, on November 21, 2023.
Joined in the suit as defendants were the Police Service Commission, the Inspector-General of Police, Delta State Commissioner of Police, Ughelli Area Commander, and Inspector Godspower, a police officer and team leader, Inspector General of Police, IGP, Monitoring Squad.
The applicant had in his petition through his counsel, demanded for a N100M compensation, the unconditional release of his Toyota RAV4 vehicle with registration no: FST 263-EG, Engine no: 2AZ2715452, Chasis no:JTMBD33V976049906, a Gold Rolex Wrist Watch worth $8,000 and the sum of N250,000 kept at the pigeon hole of the car.
Listed as number 12 on the court list, 1st -5th defendants absent but they were represented by the OC legal, Michael Iyeh, while the applicant absence was represented by E.O. Erhirhi Esq.
Suit No:UCH/FR/ 266/2023 On Number 12 In The Court List
Counsel to the 1st to 5th defendants, Michael Iyeh, while addressing the court, disclosed that there are moves for settlement out of court in respect of the matter which was not objected by applicant counsel.
The judge, Hon. Justice A.A. Onojovwo in his ruling, adjourned the case to February 7, 2023, for a report of settlement by both parties.
While reacting to the ruling, Mr E.O Erhirhi, counsel to the applicant said, “We agreed for settlement but, if the vehicle is not released and our terms are not met, we will proceed for hearing.”
Mr. Omiunu Bidemi, a business man based in Delta state who had earlier briefed newsmen in December 2023, said “On November 21, 2023, I sent my driver, Mr Johnson Oghenebrume on an errand and on his way back, he was stopped by a group of men on plain black clothes and fully armed.
“When my driver alighted from the car to inquire about them, they introduced themselves as Police Officers attached to the IGP monitoring team. They took the keys to the vehicle from my driver even when the vehicle documents were intact and with him.
“I saw them while driving the opposite direction and one of them sitting on the driver seat. On seeing my driver, I beacon on him to know what the problem was and to my utmost surprise, they jumped into my vehicle, accompanied by their Toyota Sienna, and sped off without letting us know where they are taking the vehicle.
“We tried to follow them but the manner at which they drove my vehicle made them look like kidnap syndicates. It was after we saw some police officers attached to Otu-Jeremi division, whom I narrated my ordeal to that confirmed their identity as police officers.
“They took my vehicle, the RAV4 Jeep with registration no FST 263EG away with the sum of N250, 000 that I was meant to pay my workers and a Gold Rolex Wrist Watch valued at $8,000, which when converted to naira is about N9,000,000 (Nine million naira) that were in the pigeon hole(Safe Box) of the vehicle
“It took my lawyer three days, precisely November 23, 2023, to finally locate the car at Ughelli Area Command, only God knew where and where they must have driven it to and mechanical damage done to it before returning it to the Ughelli Area Command. When my lawyer met with the police officer, Inspector Godspower who led the team for the release of the vehicle, he refused and insisting on seeing me and the driver.
“He rudely told my lawyer that he is not answerable to any police officer except for the Inspector General of Police. With kind of people I saw on that day, I concluded not to go to them because my life and that of my driver is very important to us.
“I sent Police officers attached to the Ughelli Area Command, whom I had earlier contacted to Inspector Godspower to release the vehicle, but he blatantly refused and repeatedly stated that neither the Delta State Commissioner of Police nor the Area Commander has no power over him to order him to release the car except the IGP.
“My question is how can a police officer baring arms be detailed for an assignment without him answerable to any other officer except the Inspector General of Police who is at Abuja? How can a police officer who is not answerable to Commissioner of Police, an Area Commander be situated at Ughelli Area Command.”?
“I have suffered economic hardship and currently traumatized emotionally and physically as my cattle ranching has suffered loss of revenue the past two weeks due to the absence of my car which I do use to network with my customers within and outside Delta State.
“My prayer therefore, is for the court to compel or order the 5th respondent, Inspector Godspower (surname unknown) who is acting under the authority, control and supervision of the 1st-4th respondent to unconditionally release my car, Gold Rolex wrist watch worthing $8,000, N250,000 in one thousand naira denomination, and pay a N100, 000,000, (One Hundred Million Naira) as compensation.
“I have suffered untold economic hardship and currently traumatized emotionally and physically as my cattle ranching has suffered loss of revenue the past two weeks due to the absence of my car which I do use to network with my customers within and outside Delta State.