Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) says the police boss, Ibrahim Idris, defamed the spokesman for former military president Ibrahim Babangida by declaring him wanted. The Inspector General of Police declared Kazeem Afegbua wanted for allegedly circulating false statement, defamation of character and act capable of inciting public disturbance.
Afegbua had released a statement on Sunday titled, ”Towards a National Rebirth” in which he quoted Babangida as advising Nigerians to do away with analogue leaders and embrace those of the digital age. But Babangida, in another statement signed by him hours later, noted that he had easy access to the president and that where necessary, he would speak to him in camera, not resorting to open letter.
However, Afegbua said: “I extracted a commitment from him (Babangida) before I issued that statement. The former military president authorised the statement I issued. I didn’t just put out the statement on my own.” And Falana, in a statement, said “no criminal offence known to law has been committed to warrant the action of the Inspector-General of Police.”
“By declaring Mr. Afegbua wanted when he has not failed to honour the invitation of the police, the Inspector-General of Police has overreached himself. It is the Inspector-General of Police who has defamed Mr. Afegbua by portraying him as a fugitive from the law. Therefore, Mr. Idris is advised to withdraw the offensive declaration without any further delay.
“Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the issuance of the public statement by Mr. Afegbua and the denial by General Babangida, it ought to be pointed out that no criminal offence known to law has been committed to warrant the action of the Inspector-General of Police. More so, both General Babangida and President Buhari have not complained that the controversial press statement defamed them.
“In fact, if the statement is considered defamatory, whoever is injured would have to institute a civil suit where he will be required to put his own reputation in issue.”
