The Nigeria Police Force, yesterday, apologised to former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida’s spokesman, Kassim Afegbua, for declaring him wanted. Inspector-General of Police, IGP Idris Ibrahim, had declared Afegbua wanted over a statement issued on behalf of the former president who pointedly asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to run for a second term following public outcry against the poor performance of the administration.
The spokesman to the former president, yesterday, stormed the headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force, Abuja, in the company of his lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, his wife and other family members. Speaking after honouring the invitation, Afegbua said: “Incidentally, it became a very fair discussion. The Police said there was a mix-up somewhere, to have warranted me being declared wanted and they apologised.
“They said that the police are for the people. In a democracy, it is their responsibility to be there for the people, not to intimidate, not to harass me. “Th at they didn’t intend to harass me, they didn’t intend to intimidate me. Of course, you know we have a case in court, my lawyers will advise what steps we are going to take.”
However, on arrival to the headquarters, Afegbua told journalists that: “…when I was declared wanted by the police on Channels TV and NTA, President Babangida was the one who called me and said why they declared you wanted? Are you a criminal? And we laughed over it. “He asked: Are you on the run?
Have they given you invitation? I said no and he said that is interesting but who is complaining? And he said heard on the news that they said I was wanted for defamation of character and he asked whose character I had defamed? “So, I am very much in touch with him. I am not doing anything out of place.
He is a man I have been with for the past 14 years as a spokesperson.” The police spokesperson could not be reached to comment on the outcome of the meeting at the time of going to press.
