Police Eat Humble Pie, Apologise To Afegbua

It was a humbling moment for the Force Public Relations Spokesperson, Mr. Jimoh Moshood, on Wednesday as he was forced to apologize to Mr. Kassim Afegbua, who was declared wanted by the police.

On Monday, Moshood had declared Afegbua, spokesman to former Military President Ibrahim Babangida over a statement calling on President Muhammadu Buhari not to seek reelection in 2019.

“Yes, the IGP ordered his arrest, for making false statement, spreading falsehood, defamation of character and act capable of inciting public disturbance. We have declared him wanted and he should report to the police for giving false statement…” Moshood had said in the statement.

He also requested that Afegbua turns himself in at any police station upon getting news of his being declared wanted.

Following the declaration, Afegbua through his lawyer, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, had responded: “For the avoidance of doubt, there are spelled-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 constitutional provisions, the 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.”

On Wednesday when Afegbua led by Ajulo got to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, it was jovial Moshood they met, who apologized for what he termed “mix-up.”

Speaking to THE WHISTLER after the visit to the police, Ajulo said they would reach a decision soon on the N1 billion fundamental human rights suit instituted against the IGP, Ibrahim Idris and three others.