Nigeria’s fast growing energy company, Automatic Fits and Energy Limited, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, over an alleged invasion of its Lagos offices by policemen from the state’s command who reportedly acted on the instruction of Total Nigeria PLC.
The company, through its lawyer, Oludare Falana, in the petition title UNLAWFUL INVASION, DISTRUPTION OF BUSINESS ACTIVITIES AND RESORT TO SELF HELP, BY TOTAL NIGERIA PLC THROUGH THE INSTRUMENTALITY OF THE MEN AND OFFICERS OF THE NIGERIA POLICE, LAGOS STATE COMMAND, the petitioner expressed displeasure over the actions of defendant while a case is pending in a law court.
The petitioner had dragged the defendant to court over a breach of some contractual agreements on January 17, 2019.
On January 25, 2019, the court granted the petitioner an interim injunction restraining the defendant from evacuating the petitioner from Lube bays assigned to it nationwide, pending hearing and determination of the suit.
The case was adjourned to October 16, 2019 for further hearing.
According to the petitioner, the defendant jettisoned the court order by conniving with police officers who arrested its staff at various Lube bays in Lagos State.
The petition read in part: “Regardless of the order of Honourable Court mentioned above and the pendency of the substantive suit before the Honorable Court which has been adjourned to 16th October 2019, Total Nigeria Plc took law into its hands by conniving with the Nigeria Police, Lagos Command to instigate and effect the unlawful arrest of our Client’s staff in the Lube bays it manages across Lagos State. In the process, our Client’s tools and equipment worth millions of naira were thrown out, thereby causing irreparable damages to them.
”Our Client’s staff were manhandled, battered and handcuffed like a common criminal in the open glare of the customers and the general public thereby infringing their Fundamental Human Right to dignity of their person as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended without justification.”
Consequently, the petitioner pleaded with the police boss to launch detailed investigation into the matter and bring erring party to justice to serve as deterrence to others, while condemning the action of Total Nigeria PLC for disregarding the law and trampling on the right of law abiding citizens.