Former Minister of Aviation,
Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja,
alleging plot by the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, to infringe on his fundamental
human rights.
He prayed the court to quash and
declare as illegal, a summon Police issued for him to appear at its
headquarters to be interrogated over allegations bordering on conspiracy,
criminal defamation, inciting publication, injurious falsehold and conduct
likely to cause a breach of peace.
Cited as respondents in the suit
marked FHC/ABJ/CS/917/ 2018, were the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim
Idris, the Nigerian Police, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr.
Abubakar Malami, SAN.
Specifically, the former
Minister, who is a frontline critic of the President Muhamadu Buhari-led
administration, prayed the court to declare that the said letter of invitation
by the police was unlawful, unjustifiable, illegal and unconstitutional.
He contended that the invitation
which originally asked him to report to the Force Headquaters last Tuesday, was
vague and ambigious.
The plaintiff, through his
lawyer, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, urged the court to declare that in accordance with
the 1999 constitution, as amended, he cannot be so invited by law enforcement
agents for undisclosed reasons and without adequate notice.
He told the court that the
invitation letter was so vaguely construed that “I became apprehensive and
concerned about the intentions of the Nigerian Police and what my fate could
be, should I visit the 1st and 2nd respondents office without filing this
application”.
According to him, being aware
that activities of the respondents could have negative impact on his freedom of
movement, liberty and dignity, he decided to approach the court to enforce his
fundamental rights.
He begged the court to stop the
police from inflicting on him any form of unlawful arrest and detention.
Meanwhile, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba
has ordered that all the relevant court processes be served on all the
respondents to enable them to appear on September 13 for hearing.
The court made the order after it
okayed that the matter be heard during vacation.
However, regardless of the suit,
Fani-Kayode’s lawyer said he has prevailed on his client to honour the Police
invitation on September 4, which is the rescheduled date.
In a letter dated August 31 and
addressed to the IGP, Ajulo drew attention of the Police to the suit.
Though he acknowledged need for
all the parties to avoid any action capable of overreaching the suit, the
plaintiff’s lawyer confirmed the availability of his client.
“Nevertheless, as our firm’s
practice and our client’s position is, being a nationalist, patriotic and
responsible Nigerian, we hereby confirm that our client will honour your
invitation as scheduled for September 4, 2018 by 12 noon”, read part of the
letter with reference No: KACCL/OR/377/18.
In a 20-paragraphed affidavit
that was personally deposed to by the former Minister, he insisted that he
would lose considerable goodwill, honour and prestige among his friends,
neighbours, associates and Nigerians as a whole, “should the dreaded unlawful
acts of the Respondents be implemented”.
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