AN OPEN LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, PRINCE LATEEF FAGBEMI SAN,
We, the undersigned, write to unequivocally raise an alarm on a purported plan by a highly influential person in the Kano Emirate Council to file a case in the Court and secure an order to arrest us for posting our opinions on the social media platforms regarding the issue of the Kano Emir-ship tussle.
First, information at our disposal indicated that the influential person intends to use the good office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to obtain the order. It is in view of this that we draw the attention of the Attorney General of the Federation to exercise caution in handling any matter related to the ongoing Kano emirate tussle in the event the planned petition reaches his desk. The office of the AGF should not be allowed to be politicized, or used by someone to achieve his personal gains. The Kano emirate matter is currently before a court of law, as a highest-ranking officer in the Judicial Arm of Government, the Attorney General is not expected to interfere in any matter that is before the court.
Second, we have also discovered that after obtaining the Court Order, the man will use a high-ranking police officer to arrest us. As good citizens, we are not above the law, if any authority extends a legal and genuine invitation to us on any matter, we will certainly honor its invitation. However, we should not be denied our fundamental rights for freedom of speech or movements in order to please someone. Therefore, we are drawing the attention of the IGP on the influential person’s purported plan to use his officers to intrude our rights.
Indeed, police and other law enforcement agencies are meant to protect Nigerian citizenry not to intimidate, therefore, we put the IGP on notice about this purported plan by this influential person to interrupt our rights for freedom of expressions which the Nigerian Constitution guaranteed us.
Third, the influential man is planning to drag the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) into the Kano Emirate tussle to achieve his personal objectives. The man is fervently working with a Kano based renowned Islamic scholar and Chief Imam of a Juma’at Mosque to involve the President of the NSCIA in the ongoing Kano Emirate tussle.
With a high sense of humility and respect, we want to passionately draw the attention of the President of the NSCIA not to allow himself to be dragged into the tussle. The NSCIA, as the highest and respectful religious body in Nigeria, should also not allow itself to be dragged into the matter. The NSCIA should be seen and act as a religious body.
Finally, it is our hope and prayer that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) will remain neutral on this matter and allow the court of law to do its job as enshrined by the Nigerian Constitution.
Signed: Muhd Tasiu Auwal Danbaba & Junaidu Aminu Kilishi
