A former Minister of State for Education to Goodluck Jonathan and an alleged leading Peoples’ Democratic Party guber hopeful in Delta State, Kenneth Gbagi, has arrested and charged four of his staff working in his hotel to court for allegedly stealing his N5,000.
The incident which happened last week Friday at Signatious Hotel, Warri, Delta State, came to light as photo of the prosecution and censored photo of the accused appeared on the popular micro-blogging site, Twitter, through @MayUbeku handle.
@MayUbeku, who is a social activist, demanded that Gbagi should also be prosecuted for abuse.
Kenneth Gbagi, a former Minister stripped, made a video and arrested four staff of his hotel for allegedly stealing Hotel funds.
I am calling on the @PoliceNG to arrest Kenneth Gbagi for abusing his staff. He cannot be the judge, jury and executioner. pic.twitter.com/9HP5BR0dwP
— Maybeks (@MayUbeku) September 22, 2020
It was reported that after they were striped naked and photographed inside the hotel, the dehumanised members of staff, a male and three females, were taken to the Ebrumede Police Station to be remanded in custody.
Many Nigerians, not pleased with this act, claimed politicians are the worst culprits.
What a mess? The politicians allegedly steal from the Treasury and will naked innocent Nigerians not proven guilty by any court and take laws into their hands yet the Nigeria Police that’s supposed to protect the poor will act swiftly on sum up charges. It’s hell in Nigeria.
— newsline (@Africandissentm) September 22, 2020
As a matter of fact, those people should be sentenced because stealing is bad, after which, they should sue him
— Kuye Adewale💡 (@adewale_kuye) September 22, 2020
Unfortunately he’s the leading candidate of the PDP for Delta State Gubernatorial election. I’m ashamed to hear this news.
But wait, who striped them? Gbagi or his hotel manager?
I’m hoping it’s not a set-up. Otherwise why would he do this, knowing what is at stake. Smh.
— Googgllee Translator. Mayor of Olómù. (@jesutakevwe) September 22, 2020
However, in his defence, Gbagi said that allegations against him over molestation in a hotel is pure blackmail.
The chairman of Signatious Hotel claimed some people are up with a political blackmail, alleging that he molested some of his staff.
In a statement by the Director, Human Resources of Signatious Hotel, Egba Ederoghene, said that the staff in question were already under investigation by management for conniving to steal huge sums of money from the hotel, some of which have been recovered.
Ederoghene said the accusation circulating on several social media is a futile attempt of political detractors to blackmail Gbagi.
He added said, the former minister had at no time subject any staff of the hotel to such humiliating treatment as he is presently bereaved and occupied with preparing for the funeral of his sister who passed away recently.
The statement said: “The attention of the management of Signatious Hotel has been drawn to false accusations of staff molestation against our Chairman, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, circulating on several social platforms.
“We wish to categorically State that at no time did Gbagi subject any staff of the Hotel to such humiliation as he is presently bereaved and occupied with preparing for the funeral of his sister who passed away recently.
“The management also wishes to use this opportunity to inform the public that the staff in the pictures are part of a malicious conspiracy by some political detractors to bring Gbagi’s character to disrepute. This wouldn’t be the first time an attempt has been made to smear the character of our Chairman for whatever reason.
“In the absence of any dirt to nail Gbagi’s pristine reputation, they have descended to mudslinging by concocting fictitious stories to stir emotions and gain public attention.
“However, what those behind the recent blackmail against Gbagi do not realize is that the employees whom they hand picked for their dirty and poorly executed job were already under investigation by management for conniving to steal huge sums of money from the hotel, some of which have been recovered.
“Confessional statements to this effect can be obtained from the Ebrumede Police Station.
“We also understand that a disclaimer has been issued by one Barrister Gladys, who tendered an unreserved apology for being misled by a group of Warri Lawyers used by those behind the blackmail attempt.
“The lawyer in particular we were informed, retraced her steps when she discovered that the group was being used to malign the character of Olorogun Gbagi so as to serve the political interest of their paymasters.
“The management, therefore, calls on the public to disregard such cheap blackmail orchestrated by these desperate detractors deployed to work against Kenneth Gbagi’s governorship ambition,” the statement. Finally, we wish to restate our commitment towards ensuring the highest ethical standards in the hospitality industry in Nigeria, while making it a priority to guarantee the welfare of employees engaged by our organisation,” the statement added.
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