The outgoing legal adviser of GTHomes Estate Residents Association in Lekki area of Lagos, Austin Akpomreta, been reported arrested by members of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) from the Police Monitoring Unit, Abuja, and is being whisked to Abuja, despite a pending court order.
The arrest came barely weeks after reports emerged that the Inspector-General of Police had cautioned police formations against the misuse of police processes in matters with clear civil underpinnings and against practices that could encourage forum shopping by complainants dissatisfied with outcomes at other police formations.
Akpomreta, who is one of the applicants in a suit pending before the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, Ikoyi, was reportedly picked up on Wednesday morning despite a subsisting court order directing all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the application before the court.
He was said to be on his way to an unrelated court hearing when accosted by operatives of the Police Monitoring Unit and transported to Abuja. The arrest is reportedly in respect of the same dispute that is the subject of ongoing fundamental rights proceedings before the court, following disagreements relating to estate administration and utility services.
The suit was instituted following concerns over repeated attempts by a resident, Temitope Grace Adelu-Davis, to use various police formations across Lagos and Abuja in relation to a dispute that multiple police commands and formations had reportedly regarded as civil in nature but is being framed as criminal, to invoke police involvement.
All respondents in the matter, including the Inspector-General of Police, the Police Service Commission, and the investigating police officer connected with the matter, are said to have been duly served with the originating court processes as well as the order of the court directing parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the application.
According to Akpomreta, his arrest while the court order remains in force, raises serious questions about compliance with judicial processes and respect for the authority of the court.
Counsel to the applicants, it was gathered, is taking immediate steps to bring this development to the attention of the Federal High Court and seek appropriate legal remedies.
The applicants have consistently maintained that the issues in dispute are civil in nature and are properly suited for determination by a court of competent jurisdiction and is urging all institutions and parties connected with this matter to respect the authority of the Federal High Court and allow the judicial process to run its course without intimidation, harassment, or actions capable of rendering the court proceedings nugatory.
