FORMER Minister of State for Education, Kenneth Gbagi, who has been on the hot seat for allegedly stripping his male and female workers for “stealing”, has denied the allegation in strong terms, asking God “to punish” him, if he ever gave such order.
The minister claimed that the trending video and pictures were politically motivated and orchestrated by his detractors, owing to his 2023 governorship ambition.
Gbagi, who spoke during a press briefing in Oginibo, Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state, also explained that the four workers in question were freelancers and not employees of his hotel, where the incident took place.
The Point had reported that, following widespread condemnation of his alleged action, the Inspector General of Police had assured the public that investigation had commenced into the matter, noting that the Police would ensure justice, no matter whose ox is gored.
But the ex-ministet said, “There was nothing as you have read, that happened. The people you saw in those pictures are not staff of my hotel. Legally, documentarily, they are not staff of the hotel. They are freelancers. If you do a forensic analysis of the video for my body on those pictures, and you find me there, I will resign from politics.
“I invited the Police from Ebrumede to take them. I will never descend to do such (strip people naked). It was politically motivated. I will not strip anybody’s daughter naked or strip any person.”
He noted that the matter was only a distraction to him, saying, “I am resolute; I am contesting in 2023. Let God punish me if I touched any of the girls or was involved in their stripping. I know what they are planning.”
He, however, said he had not received any invitation from the Police but that he would graciously honour any invitation by them.
The Point had reported that the four former employees, through their lawyers, had demanded a N1bn compensation and public apology from Gbagi.
The former employees of Signatious Hotel, Warri, in Delta State, demanded the compensation as “modest damages” for what they referred to as Gbagi’s unmitigated actions.
Their lawyers, led by Kunle Edun of Tri-Lex Partners Law Firm, in a September 23, 2020 letter sent to the former minister, accused him of ordering their clients to “pull off their clothes” at gunpoint because of a tip, which a guest who lodged for four days at the hotel gave to them on his departure on August 20, 2020.
In the letter, titled, ‘Trial by ordeal, torture, stripping naked and bestial conduct of Signatious Hotel and yourself in an organised show of shame and animalism: Notice of intention to seek full legal redress’, the lawyers gave Gbagi five days ultimatum to meet their N1bn compensation demand, among others.
The victims are Victor Ephraim, Gloria Oguzie, Mrs. Precious Achibong and Roselyn Okiemute Diaghwarhe.
The lawyers, defending their clients, said after the guest’s stay, “he gave our clients the sum of N105, 000 as tips for the good time that he had at the hotel.”
“This again, is not unusual in the hospitality business. That the hotel did not lose any money neither was any alleged to have been stolen. You told our clients menacingly that they are not entitled to tips, as all tips belong to you. As a matter of fact, you categorically stated that they were not supposed to have monies in their accounts as long as they were working for you,” the letter said.
The lawyers also accused the former minister of directing his 15-year-old son, Egba Gbagi, to film and take photos of “our clients’ nakedness”, saying he then summoned other staff of the hotel to see the victims’ nakedness, with “the threatening presence of armed policemen.”
Many Nigerians have criticised the former minister for what they described as his cruel treatment of his workers.
The pictures of the stripped workers went viral on social media a few days ago.
