A human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has asked the Federal Government to arrest renowned Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, first before planning to arrest Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Igboho.
Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has accused the Muhammadu Buhari-led government of planning to arrest, detain and kill Igboho.
But in an interview with The Punch on Saturday, Falana asked to arrest Gumi for meeting with bandits, and other northerners who had in the past issued notices to quit to southerners.
He wondered why the government refused to arrest Gumi for causing religious division in the Nigerian military and for advocating amnesty for bandits.
He said, “Sunday Igboho should not be arrested because those who had issued quit notices in the past were not arrested. Someone like Gumi, who is causing religious division in the military, has not been arrested. Unless they are ready to adopt the same standard, you cannot arrest Igboho.
“Those who gave quit notices in the past were never arrested. In any case, the DSS has denied trying to arrest him. However, you cannot arrest him.”
The senior lawyer asked the government to ensure that justice was applied fairly and equitably in order to move the nation forward.
Meanwhile, Igboho has revealed why he did not accept the invitation of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
The media aide to Igboho, Olayomi Koiki, in a statement released on Thursday, noted that a letter was forwarded to his boss through a courier service and another with about 15 police officers.
He noted that the letter was not received by Igboho’s security operatives due to safety reasons as such a letter had purportedly led to the death of Nigerian journalist, Dele Giwa.
The statement read, “We would like to tell the international communities and every Nigerian that this morning 1st of April, 2021, a letter was sent via DHL to Chief Sunday Igboho but the letter was not received by his security operatives.”
“Later around 3 pm of the same day, a team of about 6 men without uniform arrived in a Corolla car and another 9 were in police uniform but all were identified as police officers.”
“They wanted to see Chief Sunday Igboho with a letter said to have been addressed to him by the Inspector General of Police. Again, the letter was not received by Chief Sunday’s security team.”
“Chief Sunday would like to know why a letter was sent to him and for what purpose. If the IG of police wants to invite him, we would like him to first send the same letter to all the bandits and Boko Haram members killing our mother’s and farmers and those kidnapping them.”
“Since the IG of police wants to invite him, he should make a public statement addressed to Chief Sunday Igboho.”
“We should all remember how letters had been sent to previous Yoruba sons like the late Dele Giwa.”
