Femi Falana SAN, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Egbetokun Olukayode, alleging that Governor Yahaya Bello plans to eliminate the Social Democratic Party (SDP) gubernatorial candidate in the Kogi gubernatorial race, Muritala Yakubu Ajaka.
According to the senior lawyer, since Ajaka was nominated as the flagbearer by his party, the incumbent governor has taken it upon himself to ensure that his political party and supporters would not enjoy peace in the state or be allowed to exercise their fundamental rights of peaceful assembly and association.
Falana, in a statement he signed on 12th July, alleges that Bello uses his executive powers to launch a series of violent attacks on Ajaka, his political party and his teeming supporters as they have become victims of unwarranted harassment, intimidation and cheap blackmail.
He posited that the illegal actions of the Governor are based on his desperate bid to install his cousin as the next Governor of Kogi State.
The petition is following the recent attack on his client while returning from a thank you tour of the state on the 3rd day of June 2023, along with his team of supporters at about 12.30 pm after visiting the palace of His Royal Highness, the Ohimege of Koton-Karfi.
The statement further stated that shortly after this incident, Gov Bello addressed his supporters on this incident wherein he referred to himself as a Lion returning to his jungle and our client as an antelope that crossed the part of the lion and threatened to deal with our client the next time he crosses his part.
Falana, also revealed that, to follow up the incident, Alaka petitioned the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State and requested that the matter be investigated.
However, rather than carry out an investigation of the said incident, our client is now being hunted around Abuja by the State Governor. He has dispatched a team of police officers to arrest our client and forcefully take him to Lokoja on trumped up charges of terrorism and treasonable felony.
The petition reads:
“In view of the foregoing, we urge you to cause an investigation into the allegations of threat to the life of our client, attacks on him and his clients, trumped up charges of terrorism and treasonable felony.
“As a follow up to this incident, our client petitioned the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State and requested that the matter be investigated but rather than carry out an investigation of the said incident, our client is now being hunted around Abuja by the State Governor. He has dispatched a team of police officers to arrest our client and forcefully take him to Lokoja on trumped up charges of terrorism and treasonable felony
Our client is an Indigene of Kogi State and the Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State for the forthcoming 2023 governorship elections in Kogi State.
“Our client’s brief is that since he was nominated by his party as its candidate for the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi State, the State Governor, ALHAJI YAHAYA BELLO has taken it upon himself to ensure that our client, his political party and supporters would not enjoy peace in Kogi State or be allowed to exercise their fundamental rights of peaceful assembly and association.
“Consequently, it is our client’s further brief that the state Governor using his executive powers has lunched series of violent attacks on our client, his political party and his teeming supporters. The illegal actions of the Governor are based on his desperate bid to install his cousin as the next Governor of Kogi State.
“Thus, without any legal justification, our client has become a victim of unwarranted harassment, intimidation and cheap blackmail. For instance, while on a thank you tour of the state on the 3rd day of June 2023, our client was attacked along with his team of supporters at about 12.30 pm after visiting the palace of His Royal Highness, the Ohimege of Koton-Karfi.
“The dastardly attack took place while our client and his supporters were returning to Lokoja around the Banda Nataco Axis. Our Client’s convoy was attacked by armed gun men who were dressed in police uniform in official vehicles of the Kogi State Government.
“Life bullets were sporadically fired directly at our client with the sole intent to assassinate him. While our client was lucky, some of his supporters were seriously injured and were rushed to the hospital where they were treated for different degrees of bullet wounds.
“It is worthy to note that shortly after this incent the Governor of Kogi State addressed his supporters on this incident wherein he referred to himself as a Lion returning to his jungle and our client as an antelope that crossed the part of the lion and threatened to deal with our client the next time he crosses his part.
“As a follow up to this incident, our client petitioned the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State and requested that the matter be investigated but rather than carry out an investigation of the said incident, our client is now being hunted around Abuja by the State Governor. He has dispatched a team of police officers to arrest our client and forcefully take him to Lokoja on trumped up charges of terrorism and treasonable felony.
“Our client as a Nigerian Citizen, an indigene of Kogi State and a Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in Kogi State is entitled to the constitutional protection of his right to vote and be voted for. And in the exercise of this right, the Kogi State Governor lacks the authority to use state actors and non state actors to harass, intimidate and blackmail our client.
“In view of the foregoing, we urge you to cause an investigation into the allegations of threat to the life of our client, attacks on him and his clients, trumped up charges of terrorism and treasonable felony.
“We further demand that you direct the immediate demobilization of all armed thugs and killer squads set up by the State Government to intimidate the perceived political opponents of Governor Bello. Meanwhile, you may wish to direct the Commissioner of Police Kogi State to caution his men and officers from allowing themselves to be used as tools for political oppression of opposition political parties in the state and in particular our client and his supporters.
“While anxiously awaiting your urgent reply to this letter please accept the assurances of our esteem and professional regards.
