A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos presided over by Justice Ibrahim Kala has granted an order restraining the Police and it’s agents from harassing, intimidating, inviting or detaining a businessman, Mr Pius Eguono Onodjae over an alleged N5 million indebtedness
Joined as defendants in the Fundamental Right Enforcement suit filed by Mr Pius Eguono Onodjae are; the Nigerian Police Force, AIG Zone 2 (Alagbon Lagos), CSP Kelvin Obasi, Ogbona Nweke and the complainant Stephanie Kweneson.
In the suit filed by the applicant’s lawyer, Mr Dennis Warri, the Applicant prayed the court for an order retraining the police, the AIG Zone 2 , their officers and privies from further inviting, harassing ,arresting or detaining the Applicant pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
In the affidavit sworn to by Onodjae and filed in support of the exparte motion, the Applicant averred that he had on the 9th of April, 2025 filed a fundamental right enforcement suit dated same day and served same on the Respondents.
He further stated that up till this moment non of the Respondents has filed a reply to the suit despite the fact that the matter has come up on two occasions .
Onodjae added that the first and second Respondent have continually used their officers to harass and intimidate him till this moment.
“That the officers of the Respondent have persistently harassed and shut down the Applicant’s Beauty Spa known as PUFFIN BEAUTY SPA at No. 322 Odusami Street, Behind Excellent Hotel Off Wemco Road, Ogba, Ikeja. “
It was also averred that the Applicant said Officers of the first and second Respondents have now extended the harassment to his home thereby forcing his wife and children to seek refuge in his father in-law’ s house while he shuttles from one house to another for fear of the unknown.
Onodjae said the first to fourth Respondents are acting as debt recovery agents for the fifth Respondent.
While giving a vivid account of what actually transpired which led to his travail, the Applicant said that sometimes on March 31, 2025 he was arrested in his office by Officers of the first and second Respondents from Zone 2, Alagbon.
He added that on getting to Alagbon, the police played the voice notes of the fifth Respondent, Stephanie Kweneson and WhatsApp messages adding that Ogbona Nweke the 4th Respondent who was the Investigative Police Officer later granted him an Administrative bail after being detained till late evening and asked to come on a further date.
The Applicant stated that at the later date the Investigating Police Officer informed him how furious the fifth Respondent was on learning that he, Applicant was released without dropping the loaned money.
It was further stated that the fifth Respondent has reached out for a settlement term with the Applicant during the pendency of the suit and that in furtherance of the terms of settlement, the applicant had made part payment of the sum of five hundred thousand naira out of the five million six hundred naira into the 5th Respondent’s personal account number 3175339991, First Bank, Stephanie Kweneson.
“That the fifth Respondent informed the Applicant that she will withdraw her Complain to the 1st to 4th Respondent herein. That despite this peace move, Officers of the 1st and 2nd Respondents have continually been making life unbearable for the Applicant.”
The applicant said he has been living in fears while his business is suffering
and that only the court can intervene to save him from the oppressive grips of the Respondents.
After listening to counsel to the Applicant, Dennis Warri, Justice Ibrahim Kala granted an order restraining the Respondents either by themselves, their officers, agents or privies from further inviting, harassing, arresting and or detaining the Applicant in connection with this facts that gave rise to the subject matter of the suit pending the hearing the determination of the substantive application.
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