IBB media aide slams N1bn suit against NPF, media houses

Kassim Afegbua, the media adviser to Nigeria’s former head of state, Ibrahim Babangida has slammed a N1bn suit againt the Nigerian Police Force for continued witch-hunt, harassment, intimidation, and persecution on the basis of the letter he wrote last Sunday on behalf of his principal who he said has not lodged any formal complaint to the police or any other security agency.

Also joined in the suit, accounting to the document seen by BusinessDay include the Inspector General of police; the police spokesperson, Moshood Jimoh; the Nigerian Television Authority; and Channels Television Limited as second, third, fourth, and fifth respondents.

Afegbua’s lawyer, Kayode Ajulo filed the suit which seeks his client’s fundamental rights enforcement at the Abuja Federal High Court on Tuesday.

In the suit, Afegbua explained that following the press statement which he issued last Sunday on behalf of Babangida, there has not been any formal complaint by him to either the police or any other security agency of any infraction.

He said rather, the police through the two media houses- NTA and Channels TV declared him wanted, an action which has put his life in serious jeopardy and that “he now has real trepidation for his life.”

He also said there was no formal invitation to him by the police authorities, neither has he resisted arrest by the applicant, hence there was no basis to declare him wanted.

He said the media houses went ahead to broadcast to the whole world that he is wanted at the behest of the police and that the he is therefore being painted as a fugitive and common criminal with no modicum of dignity.

He said that the police authorities therefore failed to adhere to the procedure for declaring a person wanted and are in breach of regulations in this regard.

In the suit, Afegbua therefore contented that his harassment, and threats of his arrest and detention are not for the public good but ulterior motives and in any event, are not based on a reasonable suspicion that he has committed any criminal offence.”

Afegbua sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from the continued witch-hunt, harassment, intimidation and prosecution or threats on the basis of the letter.

With the suit, he also directed the respondents to stay all action and to desist forthwith from proceeding with any process, whatsoever, connected to the letter he wrote on behalf of his principal.

He is also sought an order directing the respondents to pay him N1bn as damages for breach of his fundamental rights, among other prayers.

 

Onyinye Nwachukwu, Abuja