Police SWAT Team Accused of Occupying Bayelsa Hotel for Over a Year Without Payment, Owner Seeks N625 Million in Damages
The owner of Euphemie Motel, a popular hotel in Opu-Nembe, Bayelsa State, has vowed to sue the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, over an alleged unpaid lodging debt of N625 million. The debt reportedly stems from the extended stay of a Police SWAT team that has occupied the hotel since August 12, 2023, without compensation.
Led by CSP Silas Adebayo, the SWAT team had allegedly taken over the 50-room facility, turning it into an operational base for their sting operations in Opu-Nembe. According to the hotel owner’s counsel, Inemoye Maxwell Brown, Esq., the officers have stayed for over 13 months without payment, causing significant damage to the hotel.
Brown noted that the lodging fee for each room is N25,000 per night, with additional charges for conference rooms and amenities. In a letter addressed to the IGP and Police Service Commission, Brown demanded that the officers vacate the premises within six weeks and that the N625 million owed be settled within the same period. He warned that failure to comply would result in legal action to seek damages.
The SWAT team’s presence in Opu-Nembe was initially met with controversy, as they arrived ahead of Bayelsa’s upcoming governorship elections. When contacted, Bayelsa Police spokesman ASP Musa Muhammed declined to comment on the matter.
The hotel, now facing severe structural damage, is reportedly in need of complete renovation.
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