- Kassim Afegbua, the spokesman to Ibrahim Babangida, has reacted to the declaration by the police, that he is wanted - Afegbua has maintained that he is innocent, but stated that he would turn himself in to the authorities on Wednesday- His lawyers also stated that he has not committed any crime, and alleged that there is a desperate attempt to scare him into submissionThe media adviser to former head of state, Ibrahim Babangida, Kassim Afegbua, has absolved himself of any wrongdoing, after being declared wanted by the police, Premium Times reports.Afegbua who stated that he was prepared to fight his case in court; however, said that he would turn himself in to the authorities by Wednesday, February 7. Pause9ja gathers that following the reports that he had been declared wanted, Afegbua, on Monday, February 5, stated that he had not received any invitation from the police.Afegbua had released a statement on Sunday night, February 4, in which Babangida had criticised the Muhammadu Buhari administration and advised Nigerians on the way forward.However, following the release, a counter-statement was released hours later, purportedly with the former leader’s approval.The situation created public confusion; and reports surfaced later on Sunday, that the police were looking for Afegbua. However, Babangida himself also stated later, in a chat with This Day, that he had indeed authorised the original statement, and that it still stood.Shortly after the police declared him wanted, Afegbua’s lawyers absolved the long-time spokesman of the ex-head of state of any wrongdoing.A statement from his lawyers, Kayode Ajulo & Co., read: “Mr Afegbua is a well-known journalist and was a cabinet member of Edo state Government with a known address in Benin, Edo state and Abuja, yet he is not on notice of the police invitation whatsoever, before the purported publication declaring him wanted.“For the avoidance of doubt, there are spelt-out procedures for declaring a person wanted by the police. The police or other law enforcement agencies can declare a person wanted if they find reasons to do so, particularly if the person is a suspect in the commission of a crime and is on the run.“The public must know that our client, in discharging his duty to his principal, General Ibrahim Babangida, GCFR, cannot by any stretch of the imagination be said to have committed a crime that warrants such negative publicity. Neither is he on the run.“Our client, however, remains undeterred by the desperate efforts of some individuals to intimidate him and bend his will and rights against the Constitution provisions, framework of Nigeria Police Force Act and the laws of the land. “The circumscription of his constitutional right to the dignity of self, freedom of expression and fair hearing denotes that there is a desperate attempt to scare him into submission. We previously reported that the Nigerian police finally confirmed reports that the inspector general of police, Ibrahim Idris, had ordered the immediate arrest of an aide to a former military head of state, Ibrahim Babangida. The police said Kashim Afegbua was wanted for making false statements, injurious falsehood, defamation of character and for acts capable of inciting public disturbance throughout the country. Afegbua is expected to report to the nearest police station closest to him immediately.
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