A Nigerian businessman, Dr Babafemi Fagite, has threatened to file a N10 billion defamation suit against the Inspector General of Police, IGP, for declaring him and his associates wanted in the Nigeria Police Force Gazette over a subject matter already pending before competent courts.
Fagite, in a demand notice by his counsel, Solomon Agada, described the publication as false, defamatory and a flagrant contempt of court.
He called on police authorities to issue a retraction and tender an unreserved apology as failure would result in a N10bn suit against him and all officers involved.
Fagite and two of his associates, Dr Raymond Akintayo and Charles Obisike, who are directors of Cabota Energy Services Limited, were declared wanted in a recent police bulletin for alleged offences, including conspiracy, terrorism, kidnapping,
attempted assassination, and criminal conversion of three gas-powered generating plants valued at over N3 billion.
But in a pre-action notice addressed to the IGP and copied to the Police Service Commission, PSC, dated September 23, 2025, the businessmen described the publication as false, malicious, and misleading, insisting that the underlying matter is a commercial dispute over a lease agreement between two companies, not a criminal case.
The counsel explained that multiple suits relating to the dispute are already pending before the Federal High Courts in Lagos and Abuja as well as the High Court of Kogi State, all of which have issued preservative orders directing parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive matters.
Specifically, Agada said the subject matter forming the basis of this false declaration is already before competent courts of record, including the Federal High Court, Lagos and Abuja divisions, where preservative orders have been made directing all parties to maintain status quo.
“The said complaint was and still the subject of ongoing litigation before the FHC, Lagos in suit No: FHC/L/CS/1994s/2024; FHC/ABJ/CS/1710/2024 and in Abuja equally, there are ongoing cases between the parties thus: Dr. Raymond Akintayo V Mr. Fortunatus Osuagwu and 5 others, in suit No: FHC/ABJ/441/2025; Dr. Jordan Femi Fagite V Mr. Fortunatus Osuagwu and 5 others in suit No FHC/ABJ/439/2025 and Egnr. Charles Obisike V Mr. Fortunatus Osuagwu and suit NO: FHC/ABJ/CS/440/2025.
“In all these suits, the courts have made preservative orders directing parties to maintain the status quo.
“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,” the notice read.
Fagite and his associates said the false publication had subjected them to public ridicule, reputational harm, business disruptions, and emotional distress both locally and internationally.
In a separate petition to the PSC, the businessmen accused the Commissioner of Police in charge of the IGP Monitoring Unit, Akin Fakorade of contempt of court for authorising the defamatory publication.
They urged the Commission to investigate the officers involved, discipline those found culpable, and issue clear directives to prevent future misuse of police gazettes in cases already before competent courts.
“The reckless declaration of Nigerian citizens as wanted persons on spurious and false allegations undermines public confidence in the police and erodes the credibility of the Force,” the petition stated.
The businessmen reaffirmed their commitment to the rule of law and vowed to seek redress through lawful means if the police fail to comply with their demands.
