Police Declare Gbagi Wanted Over Alleged Assault On Hotel Staff

The Delta State Police Command has declared former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi wanted.

He was declared wanted over alleged dehumanisation of four workers at his hotel in Effurun, Delta state.

In a statement by Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, the Command stated Gbagi was invited by the Commissioner of Police, Hafiz Inuwa, over the allegations raised on Friday, September 26.

He was said to have been invited through the Warri Area Command and Divisional Police Headquarters, Ebrumede but appealed to appear the following Monday due to pressing obligations.

However, having failed to appear over 48 hours later, the Command declared him wanted, urging members of the public with information about his whereabouts to come forward.

Gbagi, at the weekend, assured should the Police invite him over the matter, he “will graciously attend to” their invitation.

The ex-Minister was alleged to have about two weeks ordered the stripping of his four hotel workers naked for alleged theft.

Several rights activists and sympathisers had called for his arrest and prosecution.

The Police statement reads: “Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi was invited by the Commissioner of Police through the Area Commander Warri and DPO Ebrumede Division on September 25th, 2020 for questioning concerning the alleged dehumanising manner in which he ordered some of his staffs to be stripped naked and physically assaulted because of an alleged case of stealing which took place at Signatious Hotel belonging to him.

“Kenneth Gbagi personally and severally called and gave the excuse that he has at a burial ceremony of his elder sister on Friday 25/9/2020 in which he is a key player and asked for time to finish with the ceremony on Sunday, thereafter will report at the State Headquarters on Monday September 28, 2020. These requests were granted on humanitarian ground.

“On Monday September 28th, 2020, Kenneth Gbagi called the Commissioner of Police to say that he has a Court case to attend to, promising to report at the Police Headquarters in Asaba by 3:00pm; again he was equally obliged.

“On the same date, the Commissioner of Police had to call him at about 5:00pm before the same Kenneth Gbagi said he was on his way to the State HQ Asaba.

“Sadly and unfortunately Kenneth Gbagi still failed to report instead he went into the public space to disparage, blackmail and maligned the person of the Commissioner of Police and the Nigeria Police Force, Delta State Command for insisting on investigating him.

“Having failed to honour his promises, Delta State Police Command is left with no option than to declare Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi wanted.

“Therefore members of the public with useful information as to his whereabouts are advised to go to the nearest Police Station to report for his immediate arrest and handing him over to the Command for thorough investigation/prosecution”.