IGP Egbetokun
Lawyer petitions IGP, seeks transfer of alleged abduction case from Rivers CP
A lawyer, Mr Myson Nejo, has petitioned the Inspector-General (IGP) of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, seeking the transfer of a case of alleged abduction currently before Rivers’ Commissioner Police (CP), Mr Olugbenga Adewole.
He urged Egbetokun to transfer the case brought by Mr Jide Afolabi, Managing Director, Nathern Energy Product and Allied Services Ltd, to the IGP Special Taskforce on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering.
Nejo, who prayed the IGP to ensure the consolidation of the abduction case with the oil bunkering charge preferred against his clients at the Federal High Court (FHC), Port Harcourt, said the call became necessary because they were unsure if they would get a fair hearing under the CP’s command.
The lawyer, in the certified true copy ((CTC) of the petition dated and submitted at the I-G ‘s office on Aug. 11, accused Adewole of bias in the matters.
A copy of the letter, which also copied the Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), was made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.
The petition is titled: “Plot by Jide Afolabi, His Company, Nathern Energy Product and Allied Services Ltd and Other of their Accomplices to Escape Justice in a Case of Conspiracy and Illegal Bunkering Subject of Charge Number: FHC/PH/215C/2024, between IGP V. MV Aya Oba Olori II & ORS, Using the Instrumentality of the Rivers State Command of the Nigeria Police Force on the Express Instruction of the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adewale.”
It reads: “We are counsel to Mr. Dandy Atibere Oluyemi of Abuloma, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria and his company, Atis-Das Nig. Ltd (hereinafter refer to ‘Our Clients’).
“And it is on their instructions that we write this praying that you use your good offices to intervene in the matter not only to ensure that justice is done, but to also demonstrate that no officer of the Nigeria Police Force is deployed in Rivers State to aid those involved in illegal oil bunkering, but to combat same.
“Our clients being the owners of Tugboat christened MV Aya Oba Olori II (hereinafter referred to as “the Tugboat”) had entered into a Charterparty Agreement with Nathern Energy Product and Allied Services Ltd represented by its Managing Director; Afolabi Jide Olayiwola (hereinafter also referred to as “the Charterers”).”
The lawyer alleged that the the Tugboat was used “for the purposes of carrying Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) bunkered from a certain Mother Boat owned by P and Beauty Logistics at Onne Port, Rivers State to Soku Gas Plant on behalf of the Charterers on the assurances that they have the requisite Permits and Licenses to deal in petroleum products.”
According to him, while on the said voyage on 1st April, 2024 with one Ifeanyi Obi; a staff of Charterers, leading the Tugboat, a team of security operatives attached to Tantita Security Services Ltd arrested the Tugboat, her crew; William Ajiyen, Akali Olamide, and Popoola Sunday together with Ifeanyi Obi.
He said they were taken, together with the Tugboat, to Tantita Security Base at Oporoza, Warri North LGA of Delta and later handed them over to the IGP Special Taskforce on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering.
Nejo alleged that throughout the period and up to the investigation and filing of the charge against the Tugboat and the arrestees at the Federal High Court, Port-Harcourt Division, the Charterers refused to report themselves to the authorities, but kept assuring his clients that they would resolve the matter and get the Tugboat and the crew freed.
“This never happened, rather an order of interim forfeiture of the Tugboat and her cargo was made while the Charterers were busy filing multiple suits against Tantita Security and the police before the same Port-Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court.
“The taskforce later filed the above-mentioned charge against the Tugboat, her crew and Ifeanyi Obi, in which both our clients and the Charterers were described as being at large,” he said.
The lawyer, however, said that the police later amended the charge by dropping Obi’s name, the only staff of the Charterers, alleged to have jumped bail.
He said after the Charterers failed to report to the taskforce with their claimed permits and licenses to deal in petroleum product, his clients reported to the taskforce “since their own conscience was very clear and were subsequently arrested and joined in the pending amended charge,” while the Charterers were still described as being at large.
He said their arraignment was done and his clients perfected their bail and succeeded in getting the Tugboat released on bond in March 2025, about one year after its arrest.
“In addition to the loss of earnings as a result of the detention of the Tugboat for about a year because of the conduct of the Charterers, our clients had spent fortunes to fix and repair the Tugboat upon its release due to the state in which it was found upon its release.”
He expressed concern that the Charterers, who owned the cargo, walked about freely.
The lawyer said on May 8, Mr Afolabi invited his clients for a peace meeting in Port-Harcourt, where he agreed to pay certain sums of monies in different installments to his clients as part of the cost of the repairs of the Tugboat as well as arrears of the charter fee.
According to him, this agreement was reduced into writing and signed by both parties in our presence as well as that of the Afolabi Jide Olayiwola’s lawyer; S.B Ojo, Esq.
“To further cater for the fate of our clients’ liberty, the parties agreed that Afolabi Jide Olayiwola shall report to the taskforce at least to vindicate our clients that they are not the owners of the cargo found on the Tugboat,” he added.
Nejo further alleged that instead of Afolabi to pay on the next instalment or reporting to the taskforce as he voluntarily agreed, he petitioned his clients to the Rivers CP, “alleging that our clients kidnapped them and took money from them as ransom which was paid into my (the lawyer’s) bank account.”
He said his client was consequently arrested, detained on July 24 and released on bail on July 25 by X-Squad/Surveillance Unit of the Rivers State Command stationed at Hyper City, Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt which is said to be reporting directly to the CP.
He said on August 7 when the parties met with the CP and tabled the matter before him, Adewole (the CP) only advised the parties to go home and make peace since they were all from Yoruba extraction, without seeing any reason Afolabi should be joined in the pending illegal bunkering charge.
“Our clients left the meeting disappointed, but as luck would have it, operatives of the taskforce spotted Afolabi Jide Olayiwola later the same day and arrested him in connection with the pending charge,” he said.
The lawyer, however, alleged that it was shocking that Afolabi was not only released but was not joined in the charge.
He said, instead, his clients were re-invited and he equally received a police invitation, which he claimed he had responded.
Nejo, therefore, prayed the I-G to direct the immediate transfer of the case reported by Afolabi from the CP to the taskforce for consolidation with a view to ensuring that Afolabi, his company and other accomplices are taken to court forthwith.
He also urged Egbetokun to withdraw the charge against his clients if the police fail to prosecute the owner of the cargo alongside his clients, the crew and their Tugboat.
“Direct the taskforce to take other necessary actions should it find that any of the parties, including my humble self and my clients, have committed any crime in respect of the matter reported at Rivers State Command.
“Cause the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State; CP Olugbenga Adewole to explain his above highlighted role vis-a-vis his oath of office, duties, rights and obligations under the extant laws, Public Service Rules and Code of Conduct for Public officers.”
The lawyer, who hoped for the prompt intervention of the IGP, said they were committed to make themselves available at a neutral venue for further investigation.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Rivers State, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she was not aware of any petition against the CP.
“I am not aware, but I will get back to you,” she promised.
However, as at the time of filing the report, she was yet to get back as promised.
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