Fani-Kayode drags police to court asking that his invitation for questioning be quashed

FORMER aviation minister Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has dragged the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) to court asking that a recent summons demanding that he present himself be quashed because it infringes on his fundamental human rights.

Last week, Chief Fani-Kayode was directed to report for questioning on September 4 in respect of a petition against him. In a letter dated August 23 and signed by Police Commissioner  Habu Sani of the Inspector-General of Police's Monitoring Unit, Chief Fani-Kayode was asked to report to the police station in respect of criminal complaints made against him by law firm Apex Solicitors.

In the summons, Chief Fani-Kayode has been asked to appear at police headquarters to be interrogated over allegations bordering on conspiracy, criminal defamation, an inciting publication, injurious falsehood and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace. However, Chief Fani-Kayode has filed a case before the Abuja high court asking it to quash the summons and declare as illegal.

Cited as respondents in the suit were the inspector-general of police Ibrahim Idris, the Nigerian Police Force and the attorney-general of the federation, Abubakar Malami. Arguing that the summons was unlawful, unjustifiable, illegal and unconstitutional, Chief Fani-Kayode contended that the invitation which originally asked him to report to the force headquarters last Tuesday, was vague and ambiguous.

Filing his case through his lawyer Dr Kayode Ajulo, Chief Fani-Kayode, a fierce government critic, urged the court to declare that in accordance with the 1999 constitution, he cannot be so invited by law enforcement agents for undisclosed reasons and without adequate notice. He told the court that the invitation letter was so vaguely construed that he became apprehensive and concerned about the intentions of the Nigerian Police Force and what his fate could be, should he visit them.

According to Chief Fani-Kayode, being aware that activities of the respondents could have a negative impact on his freedom of movement, liberty and dignity, he decided to approach the court to enforce his fundamental rights. He begged the court to stop the police from inflicting on him any form of unlawful arrest and detention.