Take caution, APC urges Police over Fani-Kayode’s invitation

…Accuses PDP of politicising trivial matter

Joel Oladele, Abuja

The  All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to take caution over an invitation issued to the Director of Special Projects and New Media of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (FFK).

In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Barr. Felix Morka on Wednesday, he expressed concern on account of duplication of effort by coordinate law enforcement agencies.

Recall that Fani-Kayode had been invited and interrogated by the Department of State Services (DSS) regarding his tweet about newspaper reports alleging that Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was in secret meetings with Army Generals.

Following his interrogation by DSS, last Monday, February 13, 2023, after which he admitted he won’t tweet the same way if he was to do it a second time, Chief Fani-Kayode was admitted to administrative bail and ordered to report daily to the DSS as they continue their investigation into the matter.

However, by a letter dated  February 13, 2023, Fani-Kayode got another invitation from the Nigeria Police Force for further interrogation, a development the APC said might lead to an infringement on his fundamental human rights and therefore urged NPF to be cautious.

The statement also accused the People Democratic Party (PDP) of politicising a matter that is the active subject of law enforcement investigation.

The statement read: “By a letter dated February 13, 2023, the Nigerian Police Force extended an invitation to Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Director of Special Projects and New Media of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, ‘for a meeting on urgent National Security’ on February 14, 2023.

“It will be recalled that Chief Fani-Kayode was invited and vigorously interrogated by the Department of State Services (DSS) regarding his tweet about newspaper reports alleging that Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was in secret meetings with Army Generals.

“Following his interrogation by DSS, last Monday, February 13, 2023, Chief Fani-Kayode was admitted to administrative bail and ordered to report daily to the DSS as they continue their investigation into the matter.

“The invitation issued by the Nigeria Police Force to Chief Fani-Kayode to appear before them ostensibly on the same subject-matter that is already under meticulous investigation by the DSS gives us cause for concern not only on account of duplication of effort by coordinate law enforcement agencies but its possible implications for his fundamental rights.

“Chief Fani-Kayode is an upstanding and law-abiding citizen of Nigeria. He honoured the invitation by the DSS and submitted himself fully to their investigative authority, and continues to cooperate with the investigation.

“While we recognise the constitutional authority of the Nigeria Police Force to initiate and conduct criminal investigations, we urge extreme caution in this matter so as not to inadvertently lend itself to unnecessary speculation as to the rationale for simultaneous and multiple investigation into this matter.

“The PDP has continued to relentlessly exploit and politicise this matter that is the active subject of law enforcement investigation. That is simply unconscionable and disturbing.”