Fani-Kayode returns from Police summons, describes interrogators as courteous and pressional
By Chizitelu Munachimso
Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, who was summoned to Police headquarters to respond to a complaint of conspiracy, criminal defamation, inciting publication, injurious falsehood and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace lodged by a law firm, Apex Solicitors, returned from the meeting with praise for his interrogators.
The feisty former minister, who is an unrelenting critic of the Muhammadu Buhari adminstration conveyed his thought on the interview on his Facebook page on Tuesday evening. He said:
“Left the Inspector General of Police’s office after a cordial interview. The Police were courteous and professional. I was invited because of my essay titled “Five Useful Idiots and The Spirit Of The Accursed Slave” which was about Fulani hegemony and terrorism together with other write-ups. No regrets. I will hit harder and write more”.
Early Tuesday morning Fani-Kayode revealed he would be responding to the police summons by visiting Force Headquarters by noon on Tuesday. In a brief note on his Facebook page, he stated:
I will report to the Inspector General of Police’s office at Force Headquarters in Abuja at 12.00 noon today in response to the invitation that they sent to me last week. The invitation indicated that they want to question me about one of my essays. The Lord is with us!”
The Police had on August summoned Fani-Kayode to appear at Force Headquarters on August 28 in connection with allegations ‘bordering on conspiracy, criminal defamation, inciting publication, injurious falsehood and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace’. The police were acting on a complaint filed by a law firm, Apex Solicitors.
The invitation letter from the police referenced CR/3000/IGP.SEC/MU/T.G/ABJ Vol.54/226 and signed by Habu A. Sani, Commissioner, IGP Monitoring Unit, asked Fani-Kayode to appear before Usman Garba, a superintendent of police, for questioning on August 28 on a “fact-finding mission”.
The letter read in part:
“This office is investigating the above-mentioned case reported to the Inspector-General of Police in which your name featured.
“In view of the above, you are requested to interview the undersigned through SP Usman Garba on 28/08/2018 by 10.00hrs to shed light on the allegations raised.
“You are to, however, note that the invitation is purely for fact findings and your cooperation in this regard is highly solicited, Please.”
The former Aviation Minister who on receiving the letter described it as too vague and ambiguous” asked the police for extension of the date to either September 4 or 5.
The police acceded to his request via letter dated August 23 and signed by CP Sani.
It also said that the invitation to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP chieftain was in respect of criminal complaints by a law firm, Apex Solicitors.
The letter read, “I refer to your letter No KACCL/OR/372/18 dated 27th August, 2018 wherein you requested for rescheduling of appointment in respect of the above subject.
“Graciously the interview is now rescheduled for Tuesday the 4th day of September, 2018 by 1200hrs.
“You are however to note that, the invitation is in respect of criminal complaints lodged by Apex Solicitors (Legal Practitioners and Consultants) and your cooperation in this regard is expected, please.”
The police had in a letter titled, “Conspiracy, Criminal Defamation, Inciting Publication, Injurious Falsehood and Conduct Likely to Cause a Breach of the Peace,” asked the former Minister of Aviation to appear for an interview on Tuesday.
Despite asking for an receiving an extension of time, Fani-Kayode had in late August gone to a Federal High Court in Abuja praying it to quash and declare as illegal the police summons, which he said infringed on his fundamental human rights.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/917/ 2018, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, the Nigeria Police, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, were listed as respondents.
Fani-Kayode through his lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, prayed the court to declare that the letter of invitation by the police was unlawful, unjustifiable, illegal and unconstitutional.
He averred that the invitation, which originally asked him to report to the Force Headquarters was vague and ambiguous.
He 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 noted that the invitation letter from the police was so vaguely worded 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”.
He noted that 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 and urged it to stop the police from inflicting on him any form of unlawful arrest and detention.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, the presiding judge, has ordered that all the relevant court processes be served on all the respondents to enable them to appear on September 13 for hearing.
