Police Disobey Court Order, Storm Property With About 50 Armed Men, Harass, Intimidate Journalists

By Dansu Peter 

About fifty armed policemen invaded a residence in Maitama District of Abuja, to trying to forcefully gain entrance into a property in Maitama Distinct of Abuja

According to them, they were acting on the instruction of their superior, Mr Abiodun Alabi, a Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG. 

The policemen  were led by a DSP, forcefully trying to gain access to the property, despite being restricted by a court order

The court order restraining the police and the DSS from gaining access to the property was conspicously placed at the entrance of the gate of the property located at No 1, Mekong  Close. 

The Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Directorate of State Services were restrained from gaining access to a disputed property at 1, Mekong Close, Maitama District, Abuja. 

Justice S. B. Bawa of the High Court of Justice of Nasarawa State, who gave the order also extended it to a staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Ms Asabe Waziri, the Commissioner of Police in FCT and the Commissioner of Police in charge of FCID, Aina Emmmanuel. 

The plaintiff in the suit, Abeh Signatures has been engaged in a battle with Waziri over the purchase of two flats in the property for over two years. 

The Waziri, the IGP, DSS, CP FCT and CP FCID were 1st to 5th defendants in the suit before the court.

Justice Bawa, after listening to counsel to Abeh Signatures, Barrister D. I. Oguamdinma, held, "That leave is hereby granted to the applicant restraining the 2nd to 4th Respondents either through their agents and and officers to Stay Further Action To wit-Maintain Status Quo ante bellum in respect to subject matter of the suit in relation to the Applicant until the determination of Motion on Notice. 

"That leave is hereby granted to the applicant restraining the 2nd to 5th Respondents jointly and severally from Further Inviting, Arresting And Detaining the Applicant’s Directors, staff and workers on the subject matter of this suit pending the determination of Motion on Notice."

The court fixed the hearing of the case to 3rd July, 2024.

Media men who were at the scene of the lawlessbess by the police were harassed and intimidated to leave. 

Also, a cameraman who was also there was threatened by the police team for doing his job. 

As at the time of this report, the team of policemen were seen harssing and intimidating everyone around.