Kenneth Gbagi, an ex-minister of state for education, has been declared wanted by the police in Delta over the alleged assault of some workers at his hotel.
Gbagi, who is nursing a governorship ambition ahead of 2023, was said to have ordered the arrest and stripping of four of his hotel staff for allegedly stealing the sum of N5,000.
Hafiz Inuwa, the state’s commissioner of police, had earlier confirmed that two persons alleged to have been involved in the stripping incident were arrested and brought into custody.
But on Wednesday, the state police command issued a statement where it revealed that the embattled governorship aspirant has failed to honour invitations for questioning on the case.
The statement, which was signed by Onome Onovwakpoyeya, its spokesperson, said that Gbagi had instead publicly blackmailed the commissioner for insisting on investigating him.
“Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi was invited by the commissioner of police through the area commander Warri and DPO Ebrumede Division on September 25th, for questioning,” the statement read.
“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.
“He 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, 28th 2020, 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 3:00 pm; again he was equally obliged.
“On the same date, the commissioner of police had to call him at about 5:00 pm 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 Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi wanted.
“Members of the public with useful information as to his whereabouts are advised to go to the nearest police station to report for his immediate arrest and hand him over to the command.”
The hunt for Gbagi comes after the former minister denied claims that Mohammed Adamu, the inspector-general of police, had deployed 50 men to arrest him over the assault allegations.
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