Ahead of December 4 elections of FCT chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the police in FCT have invited one of the leading chairmanship aspirant Grace Ike and some of her supporters for questioning.
Daily Intel could not immediately confirm the reasons for the invitation, but source familiar with the matter who asked not to be named hints the invitation may be unconnected with a case of certificate forgery against unnamed candidate. ” Some of the candidates have a lot to answer, one of which is certificate forgery,” The source said.
But reacting to the development, the NUJ FCT Correspondents Chapel accused the police of meddling into the affairs of the Union.
The Chapel in a statement on Thursday in Abuja by its Acting Secretary Ediri Oyibo confirmed that over 20 of its members were invited, warning that it won’t be tolerated.
According to Oyibo, those invited by the police alongside Ms Ike include the immediate Chairman of the Chapel, Comrade Jide Oyekunle, Former Vice Chairman. Joy Idam of Weekender Magazine, Abdulkadir Yusuf of Liberty Television and Radio.
Oyibo further stated that while some of its members received invitations through sms, others received theirs through phone calls from one ASP Ibe Eko who asked them to report at X squad FCT CID at wuye by finance quarters Abuja over alleged defamation of character and cyber bullying.
He said the letter dated 25th November 2024 with the reference CR: 3000/FIB/FHQ/ABJ//TH/VOL.S6 /86 was brought to the FCT Council Secretariat of the Union located at Utako by one officer Sunny Onuh.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a police invitation letter signed by CP Olajide Rufus Ibitoye on behalf of Deputy Inspector General of Police Force Intelligence Department ( FID ) addressed to our former Chairman, Comrade Jide Oyekunle, former Vice Chairman, Ms Grace Ike. Mrs. Joy Idam and Abdulkadir Yusuf of Liberty Television and Radio asking them to report to one CSP Mahmood D. Mohammed on Thursday 28th November 2024 at Room 118 1st floor FIB complex, area 11, Garki, Abuja.
“While we are not averse to the right of citizens to seek redress over legitimate infringement on their rights but for the police to specifically target some of our members perceived to be supporting a particular candidate is absurd, ridiculous and unacceptable.
“The Police invitation of our members particularly this time when the Council election is by the corner speaks volumes and leaves much to be desired on the script and interest the police is trying to serve.
“The Nigeria police should be remanded that this is a union election and they have no right to victimise, intimidate or coerce any of our members into silence under the pretext of a frivolous and malicious and allegations of character defamation by those who have lost their integrity in the union.
“We hereby use this medium to appeal to the Inspector General of Police ( IGP ), Kayode Egbetokun and FCT Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu to call his officers to order and not to be teleguided and cajoled by the so-called petitioners.
“Anybody that feels defamed or offended should approach the court and seek redress by filing a lawsuit against the person and stop hiding under the Nigeria police in the name of using Cybercrime Act to harass and hound our members”.
