Via Biodun Busari
The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has requested that Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation, not be questioned by the Nigerian Police on the coup claim.
The Department of State Services (DSS) is already investigating the claim, according to the APC PCC, therefore there is no purpose in the police bringing Fani-Kayode back to continue serving as the ruling party's Director of New Media as elections draw near.
This was stated in a statement released on Wednesday under the heading POLICE SHOULD LEAVE FEMI FANI-KAYODE ALONE by Bayo Onanuga, Director, APC PCC Media and Publicity.
Fani-Kayode was detained by the secret police for questioning regarding a coup tweet, according to a report from yesterday's, it was eventually let go.
Fani-Kayode was also invited by the Assistant Inspector-General Federal Investigation Bureau to testify yesterday about the same matter, but the APC responded on Wednesday.
APC PCC said: "We were astonished that the police had also become involved in the same affair notwithstanding the well-publicized invitation of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode by the DSS and the fact that the secret police requested him to return for additional inquiry today.
"Fani-Kayode was also invited for questioning by the AIG Federal Investigation Agency on Tuesday.
The newest invitation from a different security agency worries the APC-PCC since it came just ten days before the election, a time when he was most required as our director of new media.
"Although we don't contest the police's right to invite our representative, we do ask that they keep in mind that the DSS is already looking into the matter.
"They ought to permit the DSS to finish its investigation.
"Chief Fani-Kayode described the DSS as "quite professional" in his first interview with them after they questioned him about a tweet accusing one of the opposition leaders of arranging something with the military authorities. He was informed during the meeting by the DSS that the newspaper report he had used as the basis for his tweet was inaccurate.
"Fani-Kayode will be questioned by the DSS once more today.
The agency spokesman gave an explanation of Fani-invitation Kayode's in a statement on Tuesday night, stating that it was in connection with an inquiry into some of his claims and hints that involved matters of national security.
"Chief Fani-Kayode appeared before a Panel, which questioned him over the matter. The Service then granted him administrative bail and ordered that he make regular visits to the office starting on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, until further notice. But, the inquiry is ongoing, according to DSS.
"We want the police to let the probe run its course completely so that they do not leave themselves exposed to accusations that they were carrying out an opposition-scripted agenda.
"Chief Fani-Kayode is a well-liked Nigerian who formerly served as the nation's aviation minister. He'll be on hand at any time to provide an explanation for his activities.