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

The federal high court in Lagos has restrained the inspector-general of police (IGP) and other officers from arresting Nedu Wazobia, the on-air personality.

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.