After DSS Invitation, Police Extend Invite to Femi Fani-Kayode Over Coup Allegation

Posted by Thandiubani on Wed 15th Feb, 2023 - tori.ng

The warning is coming on the heel of a surprise invitation to the PCC director of new media by the police on Tuesday.

The Federal Investigation Bureau of the Nigeria Police Force has invited a former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode over his alleged coup comment.

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council confirmed this on Wednesday while warning the police not to interfere with the ongoing investigation by the Department of State Service.

The surprise invitation was sent to the PCC director of new media on Tuesday.

Fani-Kayode was grilled by the DSS for five hours over a series of tweets he made on Saturday, alleging that some high-ranking military officers were cooking something with the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar.

Reacting to his invitation after he left the DSS headquarters in Abuja, a sober-looking Fani-Kayode told journalists that he could have been more circumspect and handled things differently.

He also disclosed that the security agency asked him to report back on Wednesday and once every other week until they conclude their investigation.

A statement signed on Wednesday by the PCC Director of Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, however, stated that despite the well-publicised invitation of the DSS and his return for further investigation, they were shocked to hear that an Assistant Inspector General from the Federal Investigation Bureau has also invited Fani-Kayode for questioning.

“The APC-PCC is concerned about the latest invitation by another security agency with 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 officials, 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 and the panel that interviewed him on the subject matter afterward granted him an administrative bail. Fani-Kayode will have another round of grilling by the DSS today.

“We want the police to allow the investigation to 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 statement read.