The Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised concern over the invitation of its Director of New Media, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode by the Police while he was being investigated by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Fani-Kayode was a guest of the DSS on Monday in respect of what its Public Relations Officer, Dr Peter Afunanya said was in respect of some of the former minister’s allegations and insinuations relating to issues relevant to national security.
He said Fani-Kayode was made to face a panel that interviewed him on the subject matter before granting him administrative bail
Afunanya said the Fani-Kayode had been directed to make routine returns to the DSS with effect from Wednesday till otherwise, while his investigation continues.
Fani-Kayode was reportedly questioned over a tweet he made, in which he alleged that presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar met with some army generals.
In a statement, the APC PCC’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Bayo Onanuga said that the council was concerned about the latest invitation by another security agency, just some 10 days to the election, “when he is most needed as our director of New Media”.
The council urged the Police to allow the investigation by the DSS to “go its full course, so that they (the Police) do not open themselves to suspicions that they were implementing an agenda scripted by the opposition”.
The statement reads: “Despite the well-publicised invitation of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode by the DSS and the report that the secret police asked him to return for further investigation today, we were surprised that the Police have also jumped into the same matter.
“On Tuesday the AIG Federal Investigation Bureau also invited Fani-Kayode for questioning.
“The APC-PCC is concerned about the latest invitation by another security agency, just some 10 days to the election, when he is most needed as our director of New Media.
“While we are not questioning the authority of the police to invite our official, we want the police to be mindful that the truth they seek to find is already being pursued by the DSS. They should allow the DSS to complete its investigation.
“Chief Fani-Kayode, upon his first interview by the DSS, described the agency as ‘very professional’, in the way the operatives grilled him on a tweet accusing one of the opposition leaders of cooking something with the military authorities. The DSS at the meeting made it clear to him that the basis of his tweet, a newspaper report, was not correct.
“Fani-Kayode will have another round of grilling by the DSS today.
“In a statement Tuesday night, the agency spokesman explained the reason for Fani-Kayode’s invitation, saying it was in respect of an investigation of some of his allegations and insinuations relating to issues relevant to National Security.
“‘Chief Fani-Kayode faced a Panel which interviewed him on the subject matter. Afterwards, the Service granted him administrative bail and directed that he makes routine returns to the Office with effect from Wednesday, 15th February, 2023 till otherwise. The investigation, however, continues’, DSS said.
“We want the police to allow the investigation go its full course, so that they do not open themselves to suspicions that they were implementing an agenda scripted by the opposition.
“Chief Fani-Kayode is a respected Nigerian and had served his country as minister of aviation. He will be available any time to answer for his actions.
The DSS spokesman had called on political parties and their media managers to apply restraint in their utterances and public communication engagements prior to and after the general elections.
He said the call was to avoid heating up the polity and evoking tendencies that could lead to violent reactions as well as undermine peace and order.
He said: “Political parties and their media managers are advised to apply restraint in their utterances and public communication engagements prior to and after the general elections.
“This is to avoid heating up the polity and evoking tendencies that could lead to violent reactions as well as undermine peace and order”.
