Former Minister Gbagi declared wanted over assault case
By Emmanuel Awosika
The Delta Police Command has declared former Minister of Education, Kenneth Gbagi, wanted over his involvement in the assault of some workers at his Signatious Hotel.
Allegedly, Gbagi, who owns the hotel, accused four his workers of stealing and forced them to strip naked in presence of armed security operatives as punishment. He also had someone film the incident and share the nude pictures online.
The four workers involved — three males and a male — demanded compensation of N1 billion naira and a public apology for the dehumanizing treatment.
The Delta Police revealed in a statement that it had invited Gbagi for questioning over his role in the incident, but the former Minister declined to honour the invite.
According to the statement, Gbagi’s refusal to surrender himself for investigation left the Police no choice but to declare him wanted. It added that anyone with valuable information that could lead to his arrest should visit the nearest police station.
The statement, titled ‘Delta State Police Command Declare Kenneth Agbagi Wanted’, was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya and released on Wednesday.
It reads partly: “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 staff be stripped naked and physically assaulted.
“Kenneth Gbagi personally and severally called and gave the excuse that he has 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, 28th2020, 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 Kenneth Gbagi wanted.”
