The Lagos State Police Command had denied reports that the Commissioner of Police defied a court order in the dispute involving Nestoil’s Victoria Island premises.
In a press statement signed by the Command public relations officer, Superintendent of Police, Abimbola Adebisi, the Command says claims circulating in parts of the media suggesting that the Commissioner obstructed the enforcement of a court ruling are false, unfounded, and misleading.
According to the Police, the court order relating to the Nestoil premises was received at about 5:50pm on Thursday, November 20.
The document was immediately forwarded to the Police Legal Department for authentication, and confirmation was obtained the following day.
Following that confirmation on November 21, all police personnel stationed at the premises were withdrawn the same day, in compliance with the order.
The Command says at no time did the Commissioner visit the Nestoil site on November 20 or 21, nor did the Police obstruct the Sheriff or interfere with the execution of the court directive.
The statement noted that the Police do not have powers to seal any premises, stressing that their role is limited to protecting court officials during enforcement and maintaining public order.
The Lagos Police Command is urging all parties in the Nestoil matter to focus on their legal processes and desist from dragging the Police into what it describes as an unnecessary controversy.
The statement maintains that the Commissioner of Police remains committed to upholding the rule of law and obeying all judicial orders.
(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
