IBB’s aide, Afegbua demands N1bn from police, others

The spokesman of former military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Prince Kassim Afegbua has sued the Nigerian Police and four others, demanding the sum of N1billion in compensation over alleged threat for his arrest and detention following a statement he issued on behalf of his principal.

Babangida had in the statement dated February 4, 2018 through Afegbua, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sacrifice his 2019 presidential ambition in “national interest,” adding that he will support youthful leadership in the next election.

In an originating motion filed by his counsel, Kayode Ajulo before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, Afegbua wants the court to declare that the continued “witch-hunt, harassment, intimidation, and persecution” on the basis of the statement he wrote on behalf of Babangida, was unjustifiable, illegal and unconstitutional.

He wants the court to make an order of perpetual injunction restraining the police, spokesman, Moshood Jimoh, Nigeria Television Authority, and Channels Television Limited 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 Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida GCFR.”

Afegbua contends that his being declared “wanted” through the media when IBB has not lodged a formal complaint to the police or any other security agency and when there has been no formal invitation extended to him or any attempt to arrest him and he resisted or refused to honour such invitation, “do not only constitute prosecutorial misconduct.

No date has been fixed for hearing.