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Tag: Kassim Afegbua

Afegbua tackles AGF Fagbemi on suspension of Edo LG chairmen, vice

Mr Kassim Afegbua, a member, Edo Local Government Administrative Panel of Inquiry, has faulted the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, over comments that the state assembly lacked powers to remove council chairmen from office.

It would be recalled that Fagbemi, had queried the suspension of the chairmen and the vice chairmen, saying that only the legislative arm of the local government could sack or suspend council chairmen.

Afegbua, in a statement on Saturday in Benin, asserted that the Edo State Local Government Law, 2000 allowed the state assembly to address misconduct.

He argued that the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government autonomy does not override the Assembly’s powers to regulate local government administration.

He clarified that the law, enacted by the State Assembly, empowered the governor and the Assembly to act against erring chairmen.

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“The contention that it is only the Legislative arm of the LG that can check the council’s financial recklessness is nebulous and therefore unconvincing.

“Those who try to equate the relationship between the FG and a state government with that which exists between the state government and a Local government are merely engaging in mischief.

“Following concerns over their activities, the Assembly debated and voted to suspend the chairmen for two months to facilitate investigations, “he said.

Afegbua disagreed with the AGF for using the term “removal,” saying that the chairmen were only suspended to allow for an administrative inquiry.

“AGF sir, the chairmen have not been removed, but suspended. In line with the law, the suspension is to last for two months in the first instance.

“Whilst the investigation into their financial activities by the administrative panel of Inquiry subsists.

“It is misleading, therefore, for the AGF to rush to town without taking a judicial notice of the rationale for this decision as well as the raison d’etre for the action, in the first place.

“What we have done in Edo state does not offend the verdict of the supreme court with respect to financial autonomy. The law is what it is; factual, evidential and instructive,” Afegbua said.

He explained that the suspension allowed the speakers of the local government legislative arms to act in the interim.

He reiterated that the suspension was temporary and subject to the findings of the ongoing investigation.

“Depending on the outcome, some chairmen may return to office, while others could face removal if found culpable.

“It is injurious to our collective psyche for the AGF to hurriedly conclude that we removed the chairmen instead of stating the real status of what we have done, which is suspension.

“This clarity becomes instructive to correct the negative impression created by the Attorney General of the Federation,” Afegbua added.

December 22, 2024
Kassim Afegbua: Why I joined Edo 2024 governorship race on APC platform

A former Edo state commissioner for information, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has disclosed that he is in the 2024 governorship race on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in order to address the infrastructural decay and leadership deficiency in Edo.

Afegbua, who hails from Edo North Senatorial District, stated that his aspiration was also to seamlessly reposition the state in sync with national reckoning, and fully explore the beckoning opportunities.

He noted that Edo state could not afford to be in opposition, with a federal government that was poised to renew the citizens’ hope and take them to a place of prosperity, economic strength, stability, and pride.

The governorship aspirant spoke yesterday in Benin, when he visited the secretariat of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo state council.

He said: “My intention is borne out of a genuine desire to offer a new lease of leadership to our people, following the political disconnect of the present leadership in the state, seeing the decline it has brought upon us.

“We have been failed and put in despair by our current leadership. There is a huge leadership deficiency in our state, and it needs an urgent and just response.

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“Edo people are presently disoriented by the politics of pretense and high-handedness, occasioned by the needless squabbles and altercations among the leaders of the ruling party (Peoples Democratic Party, PDP) in our state.

“The cohesion that should naturally promote and reassure citizens of a sense of belonging across the 18 local governments is absent. Growth, development, and prosperity have not been able to pick momentum under these circumstances.

“There is no longer a clear-cut leadership direction as a homogeneous state, that was once driven by the collective aspirations of our founding fathers, which indeed formed the bedrock of and gave impetus to our progress and prosperity, has now become one of incessant political turmoil.

“Our political trajectory has become one of tempers and anger. It is imperative at this time that we start the process of healing and reinvigoration of the lofty glory of our dear state.

“I am energetic, strong and vibrant. I am a man of grit and am very passionate about resetting the political architecture and dynamics of Edo State through purposeful leadership that will birth a new lease of life for us all.

“I am encouraged by the knowledge of the natural resourcefulness and ingenuity that lie in our people, and their can-do spirit, now unfortunately in despondency. I will create the right ambiance and atmosphere, by tapping from the reservoir of knowledge of our leaders and the innovative ingenuity of our youths.”

Afegbua, a former spokesman to ex-military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, also stated that upon his election on September 21, 2024 and subsequent inauguration on November 12 next year, he would hit the ground running, with emphasis to be placed on road, education and health.

He said: “I am determined to make a big difference with positive impacts. With your support, I will redefine the essence of governance for the benefit of our people. The era of lamentation will be gone, when I take the lead.

“Edo must rise again from the ashes of this present mis-governance, to a state that will occupy its rightful place in the assembly of states in Nigeria. Edo State deserves more than just a passing interest.”

The APC chieftain also stated that there was nothing like zoning in Edo politics, with aspirants with capacities to govern the state to emerge as standard bearers of the political parties, while the electorate would vote for the best person, which he represented.

December 1, 2023
The ordeal of Kassim Afegbua

KASSIM Afegbua is no stranger to controversy. The long-standing spokesman of former military president Ibrahim Babangida has, however, this time, met his match in the umbrage curiously taken by the security agencies on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr Afegbua had authored a strongly worded and damning statement in the name of Gen Babangida against the president, suggesting that Nigeria needed a new breed leader, not analogue one, competent to tackle the exigencies of a complex and modern nation. He entitled the statement “Towards a National Rebirth”. Almost immediately, however, a counter statement was issued by persons close to the general’s household and rendered in tones that were more conciliating and inoffensive. It was this second statement, on which the general’s name was appended but not signed, that the security agencies seized upon to accuse Mr Afegbua of defamation. It was not clear who was defamed, the subject of the statement, President Buhari, or the general whom Mr Afegbua was falsely accused of representing.

First to pummel the general’s spokesman were the police who promptly ordered him to report at the Force Headquarters, and later summarily declared him a wanted man. The police statement accused Mr Afegbua of “making false statements, defamation of character, and for an act capable of instigating public disturbance throughout the country”. Neither Mr Afegbua nor any commentator was sure whether the police advised themselves before they drew a red line in the sand against free speech, nor why they should cry more than the bereaved. If the wily Minna-based general did not think it fit to question the integrity or motives of Mr Afegbua, it was uncertain why the police should think that that responsibility devolved upon them. In any case, they obviously and imperiously assumed responsibility for getting to the root of the conflicting statements emanating from Gen Babangida’s household and staff.

Wisely, however, the police took no serious step in making an arrest or going beyond declaring the general’s spokesman wanted. But even more wisely, Mr Afegbua, in company with his lawyer, presented himself before the police on Wednesday. He later told newsmen that his interaction with the police went very well and cordially. It was no arrest, he said he was told, and the police even apologised for hastily declaring him wanted. Whether the police still doubted the authorship and inspiration of the statement issued by Mr Afegbua on behalf of Gen Babangida is uncertain. But after a two-hour interaction with a designated officer at the Force Headquarters, he was let go.

Almost immediately, however, as if the government was incapable of learning anything, the Department of State Service (DSS) invited Mr Afegbua for discussions on the same subject. Surely, by that Wednesday, it was no longer in doubt who issued the said statement, and on whose behalf. What else did the authorities wish to know? If they were unsure of the identity of the person who authorised the statement, they could easily have placed a call to the former military president, or seek an audience with him. If they go ahead to place that call, they would doubtless then find themselves in a quandary over when a disagreement with the president became a criminal offence. The police quickly realised the folly of pressing the matter, and they let sleeping dogs lie. The DSS, accustomed to sailing near the wind, and giddy with stretching the frontiers of the powers conferred on them by the constitution, preferred to get their fingers burnt. They interacted with Mr Afegbua on Thursday and asked him to come for a second interview on Friday. Nothing will come out of the interactions but vexation.

Mr Afegbua not only has the right to issue statements of his own or on other people’s behalf, he has the right, from the same constitution the DSS relies on to unlawfully circumscribe free speech, to disagree vehemently with the president. It may not be easily perceptible to both the DSS and the police, but the Afegbua ordeal has given the impression that both security agencies feel more inspired acting in favour of and in defence of the president contrary to the roles assigned them by the constitution. It is deeply regrettable that both security agencies could fritter away public funds in chasing shadows when more serious and threatening challenges to national security flourish elsewhere and sometimes even under their noses. Worse, and gradually, an atmosphere of fear, censorship and intimidation is taking root. That inimical culture will become aggravated as the elections draw near.

February 11, 2018
Afegbua cries out after DSS grilling: my life is in danger

Kassim Afegbua, spokesman to ex-military President Ibrahim Babangida, claimed yesterday that he has been receiving death threats from unknown quarters following his issuance of a statement asking President Muhammadu Buhari to jettison his reelection bid in 2019.

The authors of the death threats are not sparing his family, Afegbua claimed, moments after his interrogation on the statement, by the Department of State Security Service (DSS).

The former Edo State commissioner said in a statement in Abuja that he has been receiving phone calls threatening him and his family.

But he vowed that he would never be intimidated by anyone or group for issuing the statement, claiming that nothing would stop him from exercising his right of free speech.

Afegbua was first invited for questioning by the police on Wednesday and later by the DSS over the controversial statement.

“In the last six days, I have gone through traumatic experience when I was declared wanted by the Nigeria Police. By the strength of that unprofessional declaration, I was treated like a common criminal and fugitive until I showed up at the Police Headquarters, Abuja, to physically present myself.

“After what the Police termed a no case issue, they were apologetic and I took my leave.

” In the evening of that day, Wednesday, February 7, 2018, I got a phone call inviting me to the Headquarters of the Directorate of State Security (DSS).

“I honoured the invitation on Thursday and spent seven hours waiting for attention. I left the office at 6.50pm when it became clear nobody was ready to tell me what the invitation was meant for. I was informed to report back on Friday 9th February, 2018 at 11am.

“On arrival on Friday, having spent two hours, I was attended to by the Director of Operations and two others who interrogated me on the said statement I issued.

” My interrogation was recorded electronically and was made to write a statement affirming the issued statement, having collected all my personal details; house address, account number, international passport number and other information.

“I find this whole episode quite nauseating and utterly condemnable. I cannot rationalise why just a statement would amount to subjecting me to rigorous interrogation especially when there was no complainant.”

He added: “The action of the Nigeria Police coupled with that of the State Security Service is at best that of a meddlesome interloper and sheer bullying, leaving serious developmental issues to chasing shadows with a view to intimidate, harass and embarrass me.

“Let me state at this point, that my life is in danger as we speak. I have been receiving series of unknown phone calls from people threatening me and my family.

“But I am resolute in the true spirit of a free born, that threats, intimidation, harassment and psychological torturing has never and will not stop me from exercising my right of free speech as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; as well as carrying out my professional responsibility.

“I am most humbled. And the Almighty Allah will meet all of you in your hour of need. On a lighter note, the support, accolades and motivation I received during this period have given me added confidence to seek elective public office in no distant future.”

Babangida,in the contentious statement ,had said inter alia: ” In the fullness of our present realities, we need to cooperate with President Muhammadu Buhari to complete his term of office on May 29th, 2019 and collectively prepare the way for new generation leaders to assume the mantle of leadership of the country.

” While offering this advice, I speak as a stakeholder, former president, concerned Nigerian and a patriot who desires to see new paradigms in our shared commitment to get this country running. While saying this also, I do not intend to deny President Buhari his inalienable right to vote and be voted for, but there comes a time in the life of a nation, when personal ambition should not override national interest. “This is the time for us to reinvent the will and tap into the resourcefulness of the younger generation, stimulate their entrepreneurial initiatives and provoke a conduce environment to grow national economy both at the micro and macro levels.?”Contemporary leadership has to be proactive and not reactive. It must factor in citizens’ participation. Its language of discourse must be persuasive not agitated and abusive. It must give room for confidence building. It must build consensus and form aggregate opinion on any issue to reflect the wishes of the people across the country.

“It must gauge the mood of the country at every point in time in order to send the right message. It must share in their aspirations and give them cause to have confidence in the system. Modern leadership is not just about “fighting” corruption, it is about plugging the leakages and building systems that will militate against corruption.

“Accountability in leadership should flow from copious examples. It goes beyond mere sloganeering. My support for a new breed leadership derives from the understanding that it will show a marked departure from recycled leadership to creating new paradigms that will breathe fresh air into our present polluted leadership actuality.?”My intervention in the governance process of Nigeria wasn’t an accident of history. Even as a military government, we had a clear-cut policy agenda on what we needed to achieve. We recruited some of the best brains and introduced policies that remain some of the best in our effort to re-engineer our polity and nation.

“We saw the future of Nigeria but lack of continuity in government and of policies killed some of our intentions and initiatives. Even though we did not provide answers to all the developmental challenges that confronted us as at that time, we were not short of taking decisions whenever the need arose.”

February 10, 2018
My life is in danger, says Afegbua

*But vows:I won’t succumb to intimidation

*Dismisses Police, DSS as interlopers engaging in bullying

Prince Kassim Afegbua, spokesman to ex-Military President Ibrahim Babangida, claimed on Friday that he has been receiving death threats from unknown quarters following his issuance of a statement asking President Muhammadu Buhari to jettison his reelection bid in 2019.

The authors of the death threats are not sparing his family, Afegbua said moments after his interrogation on the statement by the Department of State Security Service (DSS).

The former EdoState commissioner said in a statement in Abuja that he has been receiving phone calls threatening him and his family.

But he vowed that never would he be intimidated by anyone or group for issuing the statement .

He was first invited for questioning by the police on Wednesday and later by the DSS on the statement.

Afegbua declared that nothing would stop him from exercising his right of free speech.

His words: “In the last six days, I have gone through traumatic experience when I was declared wanted by the Nigeria Police.

“ By the strength of that unprofessional declaration, I was treated like a common criminal and fugitive until I showed up at the Police Headquarters Abuja to physically present myself.

“After what the Police termed a no case issue, they were apologetic and I took my leave.

“ In the evening of that day, Wednesday 7th February, 2018 I got a phone call inviting me to the Headquarters of the Directorate of State Security (DSS).

“I honoured the invitation on Thursday and spent seven hours waiting for attention. I left the office at 6.50pm when it became clear nobody was ready to tell me what the invitation was meant for. I was informed to report back on Friday 9th February, 2018 at 11am.

“On arrival on Friday, having spent two hours, I was attended to by the Director of Operations and two others who interrogated me on the said statement I issued.

” My interrogation was recorded electronically and was made to write a statement affirming the issued statement, having collected all my personal details; house address, account number, international passport number and other information.

“I find this whole episode quite nauseating and utterly condemnable. I cannot rationalise why just a statement would amount to subjecting me to rigorous interrogation especially when there was no complainant.”

Afegbua said the Nigeria Police and the DSS were at best meddlesome interloper engaging in sheer bullying,

He added: “The action of the Nigeria Police coupled with that of the State Security Service is at best that of a meddlesome interloper and sheer bullying, leaving serious developmental issues to chasing shadows with a view to intimidate, harass and embarrass me.

“Let me state at this point that my life is in danger as we speak. I have been receiving series of unknown phone calls from people threatening me and my family.

“But I am resolute in the true spirit of a free born, that threats, intimidation, harassment and psychological torturing has never and will not stop me from exercising my right of free speech as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; as well as carrying out my professional responsibility.

“I will not submit to intimidation, harassment and threats. Certainly not. I have just a life to live and no one under God will live forever.”

“This experience to me is an eye opener in so many ways. I feel a sense of personal gratitude to several of Nigeria’s foremost legal luminaries who maintained a constant touch and gave useful legal advice throughout the period of this travails.

“I am most humbled. And the Almighty Allah will meet all of you in your hour of need. On a lighter note, the support, accolades and motivation I received during this period have given me added confidence to seek elective public office in no distant future.”

“ I speak as a stakeholder, former president, concerned Nigerian and a patriot who desires to see new paradigms in our shared commitment to get this country running. While saying this also, I do not intend to deny President Buhari his inalienable right to vote and be voted for, but there comes a time in the life of a nation, when personal ambition should not override national interest. “This is the time for us to reinvent the will and tap into the resourcefulness of the younger generation, stimulate their entrepreneurial initiatives and provoke a conduce environment to grow national economy both at the micro and macro levels.
“Contemporary leadership has to be proactive and not reactive. It must factor in citizens’ participation. Its language of discourse must be persuasive not agitated and abusive. It must give room for confidence building. It must build consensus and form aggregate opinion on any issue to reflect the wishes of the people across the country.

“It must gauge the mood of the country at every point in time in order to send the right message. It must share in their aspirations and give them cause to have confidence in the system. Modern leadership is not just about “fighting” corruption, it is about plugging the leakages and building systems that will militate against corruption.

“Accountability in leadership should flow from copious examples. It goes beyond mere sloganeering. My support for a new breed leadership derives from the understanding that it will show a marked departure from recycled leadership to creating new paradigms that will breathe fresh air into our present polluted leadership actuality.
“My intervention in the governance process of Nigeria wasn’t an accident of history. Even as a military government, we had a clear-cut policy agenda on what we needed to achieve. We recruited some of the best brains and introduced policies that remain some of the best in our effort to re-engineer our polity and nation.

“We saw the future of Nigeria but lack of continuity in government and of policies killed some of our intentions and initiatives. Even though we did not provide answers to all the developmental challenges that confronted us as at that time, we were not short of taking decisions whenever the need arose.”

February 9, 2018
DSS invites IBB’s spokesman, Afegbua

Kassim Afegbua, the spokesman of former military President Ibrahim Babangida, has been invited the Department of State Services (DSS).

Afegbua confirmed this to The Nation yesterday.

He said he had been invited by the DSS to report at its office in Abuja today.

The former President spokesman, accompanied by his wife, lawyer Kayode Ajulo and some friends on Wednesday had stormed the Police headquarters around 10:32am after being declared wanted.

The police had declared him wanted to explain his role in the controversial statement he issued on behalf of Babangida, which chided the Buhari administration.

But Afegbua, in an interview with reporters at the entrance to the police headquarters, said after he was declared wanted, Gen. Babangida spoke to him, saying: “Why are they declaring you wanted? Are you a criminal? And we laughed over it.

Read also: I’m not a fugitive, says IBB’s aide at police hqtrs

“He also asked if I was on the run and if I had been given an invitation and he said, okay that is interesting. Who is complaining? My boss said he heard on the news that they talked about defamation of character, and he asked; whose character I had defamed?

February 8, 2018
IBB’s spokesman, sues IGP, others for being declared wanted

*Seeks N1b for rights violation

Spokesman to former military leader, Ibrahim Babangida, Kassim Afegbua has sued the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and two media houses, accusing them of violating his fundamental human rights by declaring him wanted over the statement he issued for his principal.

There was controversy over the authenticity of the letter written last Sunday by Afegbua on behalf of Babangida.

The police, through its spokesman, Moshood Jimoh later issued a statement declaring Afegbua wanted for allegedly “making false statements, defamation of character and for an act capable of instigating public disturbance throughout the country”.

In a suit he filed on Tuesday, marked: FFHC/ABJ/CS/129/2018, before the Federal High Court, Afegbua faulted the police’s decision to declare him wanted without first inviting him.

The fundamental rights enforcement suit suit filed by his lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, also has Jimoh, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Channels Televisions Limited as respondents

Afegbua argued that he had not been formally invited by the police before declaring him wanted and thereby painted him “as a fugitive and common criminal with no modicum of dignity”.

Afegbua described his being declared wanted as witch-hunt, harassment, intimidation and persecution, as his boss had not denied the statement he issued on his behalf.

Justifying the inclusion of the media houses in the suit, Afegbua said the police, the IGP and the Force PRO deployed the platforms of NTA and Channels Televisions to declare him wanted.

He argued that it was needless declaring him wanted having not been formally invited by the police or resisted arrest by the police.

Afegabua wants the court to declare that “the continued witch-hunt, harassment, intimidation, and persecution of the applicant or threats thereof by the respondents ostensibly on the basis of a letter he wrote on behalf of his principal, General lbrahim Badamosi Babangida GCFR, when his principal has not lodge any formal complaint to the police or any other security agency”.

He prayed the court to declare that the decision by the 1st to 3rd respondents to declare him wanted, using the media of the 4th to 5th respondents, when there has been no formal invitation extended to the applicant or any attempt has been made to arrest him and he has resisted or refuse to honour such invitation do not only constitute prosecutorial misconduct, malicious process, misfeasance in public office by the 1st to 3rd respondents but also infringe unjustifiably, illegally and unconstitutionally upon the applicant’s fundamental rights to life, dignity of human person, liberty to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, to freedom of expression, association and movement”.

The plaintiff claimed his said rights were “guaranteed and protected respectively by sections 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 40 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Articles 2,4,5,6,7,9,1o,11,12 and 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement)Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

Afegbua prayed the court for “an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the respondents by themselves, their officers, servants, agents and privies from (I) the continued witch-hunt, harassment, intimidation, and persecution of the Applicant or threats thereof ostensibly on the basis of a letter he wrote on behalf of his principal, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida GCFR”.

Read Also: Afegbua will report to police Wednesday – Lawyer

He also wants “an order directing the respondents to stay all action and to desist forthwith from proceeding with any process whatsoever, including but not limited to any purported investigation, detention, prosecution of the applicant or otherwise, which is connected, associated with or premised upon the letter he wrote on behalf of his principal, General lbrahim Badamosi Babangida GCFR.”

Afegbua, who seeks NGN1billion as damages against the respondents for the breach of his fundamental rights, equally wants “an order directing the respondents to apologise to the applicant through the media of the 4th to the 5th respondents and three national newspapers.”

The grounds for his claims includes that he is a renowned journalist, publisher, writer, spokesperson for General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, GCFR and former Commissioner in Edo State”

Afegbua said he “wrote a letter on behalf of his principal, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida GCFR on February 4, 2016, which was widely publicised”.

He said there was another letter, “purportedly to have emanated from the applicant’s principal on the evening of the same February 4, 2018”.

He said: “There has been no formal complaint by the applicant’s principal to the police or any other security agency of any infraction by the Applicant.

“The 1st to 3rd respondents, through the media of the 4th and 5th respondents declared the applicant wanted and the action of the respondents has put the life of the applicant in serious jeopardy and he now has real trepidation for his life.

“There was no formal invitation to the applicant from the 1st to 3rd respondents and there was no attempt by the 1st to 3rd respondents to arrest the applicant.

“The applicant has not refused to honour any formal invitation by the 1st to 3rd respondents and he has not resisted arrest by the applicant, hence there is no basis for declaring the applicant wanted.

“The 4th to 5th respondents used their media to broadcast to the whole world that the applicant is wanted at the behest of the 1st to 3rd respondents,” Afegbua said.

February 6, 2018
IGP’s decision to prosecute IBB’s press secretary illegal, says Falana

Activist lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has described as illegal the decision of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr Ibrahim Idris to prosecute Mr. Kassim Afegbua, the Press Secretary of former President Ibrahim Babangida, for defamation.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday, Falana who noted that neither President Muhammadu Buhari nor Babangida has filed any complaint against Afegbua, contended that there was no justification for the action of the IGP.

Afegbua, according to him, has not committed any offence known to the law.

“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, that both General Babangida and President Buhari have not complained that the controversial press statement has 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”.

To buttress his argument, Falana cites a related and decided case of the Court of Appeal.

“In Arthur Nwankwo v The State (1985) 4 NCLR 228, the Court of Appeal had cautioned public officers in Nigeria to desist from invoking undemocratic laws which were introduced by the earstwhile British colonial regime to harass or intimidate their political opponents. According to Olajide Olatawura JCA (as he then was of blessed memory):

Read Also: IGP orders Afegbua’s arrest

“The decision of the founding fathers of this present Constitution which guarantees freedom of speech which must include freedom to criticize should be praised and any attempt to derogate from it except as provided in the Constitution must be resisted. Those in public office should not be intolerant of criticism. Where a writer exceeds the bounds there should be a resort to the law of libel where the plaintiff must of necessity put his character and reputation in issue.”

He said; “Since General Babangida has now turned round to insist that he authorised Mr. Afegbua to issue the controversial statement it is hoped that he will be prepared to say so in a criminal court.

“His testimony will go a long way to destroy the criminal case which the Inspector-General intends to institute against Mr. Afegbua”.

Falana accused the IGP of defaming Afegbua by declaring him wanted and for portraying him as a fugitive running from the law.

He advised the IGP to withdraw the statement.

“It is undoubtedly that 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”, he stated.

Falana recalled that Babangida, last Sunday, issued a press statement through his press secretary, Mr. Kassim Afegbua. He noted that in the statement, the former military ruler was said to have advised President Mohammadu Buhari not to participate in the 2019 presidential election.

He also noted that Babangida, in his characteristic manner, promptly disowned the well publicised press statement and the views ascribed to him by Mr. Afegbua.

He said since this is not the first time that General Babangida has disowned controversial statements made by him, Mr. Afegbua ought to have been more circumspect in issuing this particular statement.

“However, notwithstanding that the retired General has dissociated himself from the statement the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris has declared Mr. Afegbua wanted for alleged “character defamation”.

“By declaring Mr. Afegbua wanted when he has not failed to honour the invitation of the Police, the Inspector-General of police has over reached himself”, he argued.

Falana however, advised the IGP not to popularise the discredited views of both Generals Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida who, he said, failed woefully to institutionalised democracy, rule of law, human rights, self-reliance and probity during the 20 years that both of them had ruled the country.

February 6, 2018
Afegbua will report to police Wednesday – Lawyer

The media aide to former President Ibrahim Babangida, Kassim Afegbua, will present himself to the police on Wednesday.

Afegbua was declared wanted by the police over a controversial statement he issued on behalf of the ex-President, criticizing the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Afegbua’s lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, said in a statement on Tuesday morning that his client was not invited by the police before he was declared wanted by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

“Afegbua has been advised on the rights and remedies available to him as a law-abiding citizen and the man has opted to make himself available to the police once he returns from his trip on Wednesday,” the lawyer said.

February 6, 2018
Deputy Governor’s assassination claim false — Edo Govt

The Edo State Government has faulted the faulted the reported assassination attempt on the Deputy Governor of Edo State and a gubernatorial aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Pius Odubu.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation! Kassim Afegbua, the government condemned the incident at Auchi, but noted that the conclusion of the Odubu Campaign Organisation on alleged assassination attempt appears hasty.
The government said preliminary reports suggest that the fracas at Auchi was caused by thugs loyal to the Odubu campaign imported in two truck-loads to Auchi who attacked other party loyalists not in support of the Deputy Governor’s aspiration.
Odubu, on Saturday reportedly escaped death by the whiskers when gunmen shot at him at the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Auchi while receiving a delegation.
The attack took place a few minutes after Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Odubu left a party organised by Damian Lawani, representative of the Estako Central Constituency in the House of Assembly.
Afegbua said ” It is instructive to note that the Deputy Governor was inside the secretariat building of the APC in the company of the Party Chairman in the Local Government, Alhaji Umoru Akokhia, addressing the delegates while thugs loyal to him who had become unruly fired gunshots at other APC loyalists who were outside protesting against his visit.”
” We gathered authoritatively that the first shots were, in fact, fired by Odubu’s security details in an attempt to scare away the party faithful who were against the hoodlums imported to their domain by the Odubu Campaign Organisation, before thugs loyal to him fired at the party’s loyalists.
“It should be noted that among those who sustained injuries are APC loyalists who are presently receiving medical attention in the hospital. It is laughable that the Odubu Campaign Organisation will allege that the Deputy Governor, with full compliments of security details, was shot at yet no casualty was recorded on the other side and nobody apprehended.
” Given the above scenario, we find it lousy for anyone to impute assassination theory as propounded by the Odubu Campaign Organisation especially when investigations are still ongoing and the Police are yet to submit their findings on the fracas. A responsible campaign organisation should have waited for investigation reports before jumping into reckless conclusions.”
The Commissioner said the Governor has already directed the Commissioner of Police to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the incident and whoever that is found culpable will be made to face the full wrath of the law no matter how highly placed.

May 1, 2016