Businessman Threatens IGP With 10 Billion Defamation Suit Over ‘Wanted’ Declaration
Photo A Nigerian businessman, Dr. Babafemi Fagite, has issued a pre-action demand notice threatening to sue the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for 10 billion over alleged defamation.
The threat follows the publication of Fagite and his associates as “wanted persons” in the Nigeria Police Force Gazette.
Fagite and two co-directors of Cabota Energy Services Limited—Dr. Raymond Akintayo and Charles Obisike—were declared wanted for grave offenses, including conspiracy, terrorism, kidnapping, and the criminal conversion of three gas-powered generating plants valued at over 3 billion.
In the demand notice, Fagite’s counsel, Solomon Agada, described the police publication as false, defamatory, and a flagrant contempt of court, arguing that the subject matter is already pending before competent courts.
The businessmen insist that the underlying issue is purely a commercial dispute over a lease agreement between two companies, not a criminal case.
Agada emphasized that multiple lawsuits related to the dispute are pending before the Federal High Courts in Lagos and Abuja, and the High Court of Kogi State. These courts have already issued preservative orders directing all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive matters.
The notice detailed specific court cases, stating, “It is deeply regrettable that, despite pending litigations and subsisting court orders, certain individuals with ulterior motives have misled sections of the Nigeria Police Force into publishing such an injurious declaration.”
Fagite and his associates contend that the false publication has subjected them to public ridicule, reputational harm, business disruptions, and emotional distress both locally and internationally.
They have called on the police authorities to issue a retraction and an unreserved apology.
Failure to comply will result in the 10 billion defamation suit against the IGP and all officers involved.
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 authorizing the publication.
They urged the PSC to investigate and discipline the officers involved to prevent future misuse of the police gazette in civil matters.
