By Correspondent in Abuja.
A businessman, Mr. Babafemi Fagite, has threatened to institute a ₦10 billion defamation suit against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) over an alleged wrongful declaration of him and his associates as wanted persons in the Nigeria Police Force Gazette.
Fagite’s associates, Mr. Raymond Akintayo and Mr. Charles Obisike, both directors of Cabota Energy Services Limited, were also listed in the police bulletin, which accused the trio of conspiracy, terrorism, kidnapping, attempted assassination, and criminal conversion of three gas-powered generating plants valued at over ₦3 billion.
In a pre-action notice dated September 23 and received by the police on September 24, Fagite’s counsel, Solomon Agada, described the publication as “defamatory and contemptuous,” noting that the subject matter is already before competent courts.
He demanded an immediate retraction and an unreserved apology, warning that failure to comply would result in a ₦10 billion suit against the IGP and other officers involved.
According to him, the police bulletin was “false, malicious, and misleading,” stressing that the underlying dispute is purely commercial—a lease agreement between two companies—and not a criminal case.
The lawyer explained that multiple suits relating to the matter are pending before the Federal High Court in Lagos and Abuja, as well as the High Court of Kogi State noting that the courts had issued preservative orders directing all parties to maintain the status quo pending determination of the substantive cases.
He cited ongoing litigations, including:
FHC/L/CS/1994s/2024 and FHC/ABJ/CS/1710/2024 at the Federal High Court,
Dr. Raymond Akintayo v. Mr. Fortunatus Osuagwu & 5 others (FHC/ABJ/441/2025),
Dr. Jordan Femi Fagite v. Mr. Fortunatus Osuagwu & 5 others (FHC/ABJ/439/2025), and
Engr. Charles Obisike v. Mr. Fortunatus Osuagwu & others (FHC/ABJ/CS/440/2025).
“In all these suits, the courts have made preservative orders directing parties to maintain the status quo. It is regrettable that, despite these pending litigations, some individuals misled sections of the Nigeria Police Force into publishing such an injurious declaration,” the letter read.
Agada said the false publication had subjected his clients to public ridicule, reputational harm, business disruptions, and emotional distress, both locally and internationally.
In a separate petition to the Police Service Commission (PSC), the businessmen accused the Commissioner of Police in charge of the IGP Monitoring Unit, Akin Fakorade, of contempt of court for authorising the publication.
They urged the commission to investigate the officers involved, sanction those found culpable, and issue directives to prevent future misuse of police gazettes in cases already before the courts.
“The reckless declaration of Nigerian citizens as wanted persons on spurious and false allegations undermines public confidence in the police and erodes the credibility of the Force,” the petition stated.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
