Court bars police from arresting OAP Nedu over ‘N83m contract dispute’

Deinde Dipeolu, the judge, issued the interim order on
Tuesday after considering an ex parte application filed by Nedu and five others
who alleged harassment by the police at the instance of their business
partners.

The order barred the IGP, the assistant inspector-general at
Alagbon, and officers including Ngozi Braide, Stephen Onihane, and Echeng
Julius from summoning or interrogating the applicants over a contractual
disagreement.

Other applicants in the suit include Sarah Williams-Konha,
Avalon Okpe, Ada Okpe, Barbara Okwaranobi and Tokindrumz Pictures and Media
Ltd.

Nedu’s legal team argued that the police were being used to
intimidate them despite earlier investigations by the X-Squad, which cleared
them of criminal liability.

The police legal department had also advised that the issue
was civil and should be pursued in court.

The dispute stems from a partnership in 2024 between the
applicants and Tolulope Ariyibi-Oke under the Metropolitan School of Business
and Management.

The project, an educational fundraising gala with a budget
exceeding N83 million, was held in March 2024. However, the respondents later
demanded a refund of N60 million, which Nedu’s team rejected.

The case was adjourned until September 29 for mention.

The NGO dispute spilled into the public space after
controversial activist VeryDarkMan accused Nedu of fraud in connection with the
project.

Nedu, however, denied the claim and issued a
cease-and-desist notice demanding a retraction, an apology and a N500m notice
of defamation lawsuit.