A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos and presided over by Justice Ibrahim Kala has restrained the Nigeria Police Force and its officers from harassing, intimidating, inviting, arresting or detaining a businessman, Mr. Pius Eguono Onodjae, over an alleged ₦5 million debt.
The order was made in a fundamental rights enforcement suit instituted by Onodjae, in which the Nigeria Police Force, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Alagbon, Lagos, CSP Kelvin Obasi, Ogbona Nweke, and the complainant, Ms. Stephanie Kweneson, were joined as respondents.
In the ex parte application filed by his counsel, Mr. Dennis Warri, the applicant urged the court to restrain the police, the AIG Zone 2, their officers, agents and privies from further inviting, harassing, arresting or detaining him pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
In an affidavit sworn to by Onodjae in support of the application, he averred that on April 9, 2025, he filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit and duly served same on the respondents. He stated that despite the matter coming up in court on two occasions, none of the respondents had filed any response.
Onodjae further alleged that the first and second respondents had continued to deploy police officers to harass and intimidate him. According to him, officers of the respondents persistently harassed and shut down his business, Puffin Beauty Spa, located at No. 322 Odusami Street, behind Excellent Hotel, off Wemco Road, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos.
He also averred that the harassment had extended to his residence, forcing his wife and children to seek refuge at his father-in-law’s house, while he moved from one location to another for fear of further intimidation.
The applicant alleged that the first to fourth respondents were acting as debt recovery agents for the fifth respondent, Ms. Kweneson.
Giving an account of events that led to the dispute, Onodjae stated that on March 31, 2025, he was arrested in his office by officers attached to Zone 2, Alagbon, Lagos. He said that upon arrival at the police facility, officers played voice notes and WhatsApp messages allegedly sent by the fifth respondent.
He added that the fourth respondent, Ogbona Nweke, who was the investigating police officer, later granted him administrative bail after detaining him until late evening and directed him to report on a later date.
According to the applicant, on his subsequent visit, the investigating officer informed him that the fifth respondent was displeased that he had been released without depositing the alleged loan sum.
Onodjae further disclosed that during the pendency of the suit, the fifth respondent initiated settlement discussions and that, pursuant to the agreed terms, he paid ₦500,000 out of the alleged ₦5.6 million into her personal First Bank account.
He said the fifth respondent assured him that she would withdraw her complaint against the police but alleged that, notwithstanding the settlement efforts, officers of the first and second respondents continued to harass and intimidate him.
The applicant stated that he had been living in fear, while his business suffered severe disruption, adding that only the intervention of the court could save him from what he described as the oppressive actions of the respondents.
After hearing counsel to the applicant, Justice Kala granted an order restraining the respondents, whether by themselves, their officers, agents or privies, from further inviting, harassing, arresting or detaining the applicant in connection with the facts giving rise to the suit, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application.
