Police Declares Babaginda’s Aide Wanted… Afegbua Faults Police Declaration

LAGOS FEBRUARY 6TH (NEWSRANGERS)-The Nigeria Police has declared wanted Kassim Afegbua, the spokesman of former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida.
The declaration was contained in a statement on Monday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood.
But Afegbua in a statement has faulted the police for declaring him wanted.
According to Moshood in a statement, “The Inspector General of Police has ordered the immediate arrest of Kashim Afegbua for making false statements, injurious falsehood, defamation of character and for act capable of Inciting PUBLIC disturbance throughout the country.
“He is therefore declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force and should report at the nearest Police Station anywhere he is in the country.”
Afegbua had on Sunday issued a statement in which the retired General called for a change in leadership of the country in 2019.
The statement, which called for the younger generation to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, was later watered down with another one.
However, Babangida has since distanced himself from the second statement, affirming he stands by the statement issued by Afegbua, who has been his spokesman for 14 years.
However, Afegbua in a statement by his lawyers, Kayode Ajulo & Co. Castle of Law, wondered why the police will declare him wanted when it has not even contacted him, alluding to the fact that as a well known journalist and former member of the Edo State Executive Council, he can always be reached.
In a statement late on Monday, Kayode Ajulo & Co. Castle of Law said: “Our client, Prince Kassim Afegbua ‘s attention has just been drawn to a malicious news item on Nigeria Television Authority 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.”

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