Police Declaration: Kassim Afegbua To Turn Himself In, Declares His Innocence
The Oasis Reporters
February 7, 2018
Civilian Kassim Afegbua get’s caught in the middle and the police declare him wanted.
In the aftermath of the General Ibrahim Babangida statement asking President Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari not to seek re-election in 2019 even when the constitution gives him right to, which was issued by Kassim Afegbua, the Nigeria Police declared him wanted.
The two former colleagues in the army as Generals, with Babangida eventually overthrowing Buhari may be seen as rivals, therefore overzealous security officials can seem to be nervous in issues concerning the duo. Afegbua may have been caught in the middle.
Ordinarily, General Olusegun Obasanjo equally wrote a testy letter to President Buhari. Rather than arrest, he got a dry grin and diplomatic respect for his daring do.
Despite Afegbua’s protestations on his rights to free speech and liberty, Kassim Afegbua has decided to honor the Nigerian police with a visit.
Though he claims that there was no official or procedural and formal invitation to come.
Hitherto, his lawyers had issued a statement that can be read below :
NIGERIA POLICE FORCE DECLARATION OF PRINCE KASSIM AFEGBUA AS WANTED PERSON: OUR RESPONSE
Our client, Prince Kassim Afegbua ‘s attention has just been drawn to a malicious news item on Nigeria Television oAuthority alleging that the Nigeria Police has declared him wanted over a statement he issued on behalf of former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, GCFR.
Prince Afegbua, is a well known journalist and was a cabinet member of Edo State Government with a known address in Benin, Edo State and Abuja, yet he is not on notice of the police invitation whatsoever, before the purported publication declaring him wanted.
For the avoidance of doubt, there are spelt-out procedures for declaring a person wanted by the Police. The Police or other law enforcement agencies can declare a person wanted if they find reasons to do so, particularly if the person is a suspect in the commission of a crime and is on the run.
The public must know that our client, in discharging his duty to his principal, General Ibrahim Babangida, GCFR cannot by any stretch of the imagination be said to have committed a crime that warrants such negative publicity. Neither is he on the run.
Our client, however, remains undeterred by the desperate efforts of some individuals to intimidate him and bend his will and rights against the Constitution provisions, framework of Nigeria Police Force Act and the laws of the land.
The circumscription of his constitutional right to the dignity of self, freedom of expression and fair hearing denotes that there is a desperate attempt to scare him into submission.
We have advised Prince Afegbua of his right and remedies available to him, as a law abiding citizen of NIgeria, he has elected to make himself available to the Police on Wednesday once he returns from his trip.
Thank you.
Dated 5th of February, 2018
Signed
The Management,
Kayode Ajulo & Co. Castle of Law, Abuja-NIGERIA
