Title: Euphemie Motel vs. Police Dispute: A Disturbing Accommodation Case
For the past few days, the case between the Euphemie Motel located in Opu-Nembe, Bayelsa, and the police forces has been making headlines. Indeed, the owner of the establishment, Darius Obienem, filed a complaint before the Nembe Division of Bayelsa High Court for an accommodation debt amounting to the colossal sum of N649 million. This case highlights a dispute that arose between the motel and the Police, particularly the SWAT, which allegedly occupied the premises without authorization for nearly two months.
According to local media reports, the conflict allegedly erupted following the deployment of the SWAT team to the Opu Nembe community at the request of Timipre Sylva, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and APC candidate for the 2023 general elections. The police forces allegedly invaded the premises of the Euphemie Motel, transforming the establishment into an operational base without the prior consent of the owner.
The complaint filed by Darius Obienem seeks not only the settlement of the outstanding debt, but also an acknowledgement of the damage suffered. Indeed, the prosecution states that the police forces illegally invaded the premises of the establishment as early as August 12, 2023, without informing the owner. Thus, compensation of N25,000 per night and per room occupied is sought, in addition to N100,000 per day and per conference room used. In total, the amount claimed amounts to nearly N649,450,000 for the period from 12th August 2023 to 3rd October 2024, when the police forces finally left the scene.
In the face of this dispute, the Nembe Division of Bayelsa High Court ordered the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to appear before it within 42 days. In the event of non-appearance of the parties concerned, the court may rule against them.
This case, beyond the legal aspect, raises questions on the housing practices of security personnel and the importance of respecting private property, even in emergency situations or on special missions. A case to be followed closely.