Ex-minister who stripped man naked over alleged theft lose in court

Kenneth Gbagi, a former Nigerian minister, has failed to convince a Delta state court that his stripping his ex-worker naked for alleged theft was lawful. The victim, Victor Ephraim sued Gbagi over alleged violation of his fundamental rights, unlawful detention, torture, and dehumanisation. Ephraim said the minister accused him and two of his co-workers of failing to remit money paid by a lodger.

He claimed the former education minister, on September 17 and 18, 2020, authorised his armed mobile police guards to carry out the acts.

Ephraim also said that the mobile police men decided to lock him up in the trunk of a car and drove him on a one-hour drive to Gbagi’s country home. The victim said he, along side two female victims, were paraded naked and further dehumanised on the instruction of the minister, who also forcefully emptied his account.

Ruling on the matter, Justice Vera Agbodje said Gbagi’s allegation against Ephraim was untrue, concocted, and unbelievable.  She, therefore, awarded N1,000,000 (One Million naira against the minister and his hotel, Signatious Hotel And Suites Limited).