Police IG bows to pressure, orders SWAT team out of Nembe; Team vacates hotel leaving N625m bill unpaid

The Inspector -General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun has bowed to pressure over the quit notice issued by Euphemie Motel to his men, with a direct order for the SWAT team to quit the premises of the hotel and move out of Opu-Nembe in Nembe Bassambiri community of Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa state immediately.

The order from the IGP was issued following the threat to drag him to Court over the alleged unpaid hotel bills incurred by the Police SWAT team deployed to the area from 12th of August, 2023 till date.

The lodging debt, according to the report, was incurred by the Police Special squad identified as SWAT led by one CSP Silas Adebayo, which was deployed to the area for a reported sting operation in the Opu Nembe community ahead of the last Governorship elections in the area.

The SWAT team had allegedly invaded the Opu Nembe community and occupied the Euphemie Motel, turning it into their operational base without the permission of the owners.

The SWAT operatives were allegedly drafted to the area on the request of the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the governorship flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last election, Chief Timipre Sylva.

The Counsel to the owner of Euphemie Motel, Inemoye Maxwell Brown Esq. in a letter dated October 9, 2024, confirmed to newsmen in Yenagoa that the Nigerian Police, “as a respectable and responsible establishment has gracefully implemented on the prayer one as contained therein within the time frame provided as the SWAT team vacated our client’s hotel on the 3rd day of October,2024.”

Inemoye Maxwell Brown Esq however called on the IGP and the top echelon of the Nigerian Police to attend, with utmost dispatch to the second prayer in the petition of his client requesting that the sum of N625,000,000 only, covering the period from 12th August, 2023 to 12th September, 2024, be paid within six weeks upon receipt of the correspondence.

Recall that the Hotel owner had informed the IGP and the Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC) that the 50-bedroom hotel with lodging fee of N25,000 per night and two conference rooms that attract N100,000 per day with indoor and outdoor relaxation spots, was occupied by the Police personnel without payment for over 13 months.

According to Inemoye Maxwell Brown Esq, “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 withing six weeks upon receipt of the correspondence.”