Ex-Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, and the spokesman of Pan-Yoruba group Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin have jointly dragged the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPS) to a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja in pursuit of the enforcement of their fundamental rights.
The suit is about a threat by the EFCC to arrest and detain these opposition figures for purportedly using the social media to peddle falsehood against the commission for “raiding the home” of the embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen.
The Spokesman of the EFCC, Mr. Tony Orilade, while representing the Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu, at a conference organised by the Online Publishers Association of Nigeria (OPAN), had publicly threatened to invite both Fani-Kayode and Odumakin for questioning.
He added that if they failed to honour “the invitation within 48 hours” they will be arrested. And if they honour the invitation but fail to give useful information they will be detained.
He claimed that it was Mr Fani-Kayode and Mr Odumakin that initiated the rumours through their tweet and video, respectfully.
The Spokesman also vowed that despite that the video had been deleted and the tweet pulled down, with apology, the Commission will not forgive the duo because according to him, it was a serious issue capable of setting the country ablaze.
According to the originating summons filed with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/49/2019 and dated 17th January 2019, Fani-Kayode and Odumakin have approached the Court for “A DECLARATION that the Respondent’s public declaration to arrest them on the bases of spreading false rumours, is an infringement of their rights and breach of their fundamental rights as enshrined in the 1999 constitution (as amended).”
“AN ORDER enforcing the Applicants’ fundamental rights and ordering the Respondents to stop issuing threat of unlawful arrest…”
“AN ORDER OF INJUNCTION” protecting the Applicants from indiscriminate arrest by restraining the Respondents from threatening, harassing, intimidating, inviting, arresting or detaining the Applicants, by the Respondents, their privies or agents.”
Fani-Kayode and Odumakin, also demanded for the sum of twenty million naira (N20m) “as damages for the unlawful threat” against them.
Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume SAN, former Attorney-General of Imo State, who filed the case on behalf of the plaintiffs, will stand in for them.