Nigeria Police high Command is investigating a petition against the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of the Force over N625m debt owed the Management of Euphemie hotel in Bayelsa State without prior agreement or payment to the owner.
Some police personnel deployment to Opu-Nembe area of the State, was requested by former Minister of State of Petroleum Resources and APC governorship Candidate, Timipre Sylva, according to the Management of the popular hotel which is located in Opu-Nembe, Nembe Bassambiri community in the State.
The SWAT team led by CSP Silas Adebayo allegedly occupied the hotel the rooms and conference spaces from August 12, 2023, during a sting operation before the governorship elections in the area without fulfilling financial obligations.
As a consequence, the hotel Management in a petition, demanded the intervention of the police high Command to pay up the debt or alternatively take a legal action against the Force.
Inemoye Maxwell Brown Esq., legal counsel for the hotel owner in a letter dated September 23, 2024 and addressed to the Inspector-General of Police alongside the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, threatened that legal proceedings would commence if the debt remained unpaid.
The petitioner highlighted that the Euphemie Motel charges N25,000 per room per night and N100,000 per day for the use of its two conference rooms. With no payments made for 13 months, the lodging and services rendered to the police force have reportedly accumulated into a substantial debt of N625 million.
“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 with a view 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”, according to Brown.
The petitoner also noted that if the correspondence from the law chamber, R.M Whyte&Co are treated with levity, “we shall approach the Court to seek damages done to the client’s property.”
“Recall that a detachment of Mobile Policemen (PMF) and SWAT operatives from Force Headquarters, Abuja had arrived Opu Nembe last year amidst condemnation from stakeholders, indigenes and Politicians ahead of the Governorship elections in the State.
“The arrival of the SWAT team raised suspicion of alleged attempt at selected arrests. The Police authorities however claimed 11 non-resistant youths were arrested, including a PoS operator,” he added”, the petitioner said.
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