You Can’t Arrest Me!
Former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, who was recently in the news over nude pictures and viral video now circulating on social media is being accused of dehumanizing four staff of his hotel in Warri, Delta State. The Delta State Commissioner of Police has however sprung into action in making sure that the Ex-Minister is brought to book and has ordered for his arrest.
By Success Okuchemiya
This is not the best of times for Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, former Minister of State for Education, who was recently accused of stripping naked, Victor Ephraim, Gloria Oguzie, Mrs. Precious Achibong, and Roselyn Okiemute Diaghwarh.
Curiously, the four persons are believed to be staff of Signatious Hotel.
The picture of the naked workers which was shared on social media and has gone viral has been denied by Chief Kenneth Gbagi who described the allegation as the handwork of his political enemies. Meanwhile, South-South International had reported that the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, following public outrage over the ugly incident had promised that justice will prevail in the scandal involving the former Minister.
Meanwhile, as the members of the public were awaiting the arrest of the former Education Minister, Chief Kenneth Gbagi on Wednesday the 30th day of September 2020 instituted a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja Judicial Division with Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1267/2020 before his Lordship, Hon. Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo for an interim order of the Court restraining the police (IGP and CP, Delta State) from arresting and detaining him pending the hearing and determination of the Applicant’s application. By this Suit, therefore, the Respondents (IGP and CP, Delta State) are at liberty if they wish to file a response jointly and /or differently within fourteen (14) days. And this matter has been adjourned to the 16th day of October 2020.
Adamu, in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police Frank Mba, said the Delta State Police Command has commenced an investigation into the issue.
It would be recalled that Gbagi addressed newsmen at his Oginibo country home and said that “If a forensic investigation is conducted and it is proven that I am involved, that my hand, body or that of any person for that matter was in contact with them, I will resign from politics” Furthermore, Gbagi added” I never touched any of them. Besides, the former Minister noted that the people on those photographs are not staff of his hotel, but freelancers who were seeking jobs.
Even then, he noted” I did not touch them. I won’t condescend to strip them naked. Why should I strip people’s daughters naked for any reason?”
Accordingly, he queried that the allegation was a planned job by his political traducers.
For now, the Inspector General of Police, in a statement has urged members of the public, particularly the alleged victims and all interest groups in the ongoing Police investigations, to remain calm as the Police intensify efforts towards unraveling the circumstances surrounding the incident and assured that justice will prevail no matter whose ox is gored.
Meanwhile, a member of the Delta State House of Assembly Hon.(Barr.) Reuben Izeze, member representing Ughelli South Constituency is demanding N5b from Chief Kenneth Gbagi as damages for character defamation in a Whatsapp message using a voice note or in the alternative retract his statement by sending a withdrawal of the same to all those to whom he sent the voice note.
In addition, the Lawmaker’s lawyer is requesting the former Education Minister to tender an unreserved apology to his client by publishing in two newspapers circulating nationwide as well as for Gbagi to desist from making any further defamatory publication about his client either verbally (orally) or in any printed or permanent form and equally pay the sum of N5,000,000,000.00 (Five Billion Naira) for the defamation of his client’s character.
This is just as the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu has vowed that justice must prevail over the alleged nude video clips that have gone viral.
As at the time of filing this report, the Ex-Minister has stood on his ground, denying the allegation.
For now, irrespective of the Court order, the IGP has maintained that he will dig deeper into the matter to ensure that justice takes its course. Time will tell.