BY AKUDORO GLORIA
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Correspondents Chapel has issued a warning to the Nigeria Police regarding the invitation of over 20 of its members and urged them not to interfere with the union election scheduled to hold on December 4, 2024.
The union disclosed this on Thursday in a statement signed by the Acting Secretary, Comrade Ediri Oyibo following the letters of invitation extended to its members among who are the immediate Chairman of the Chapel, Comrade Jide Oyekunle, Former Vice Chairman. Ms. Grace Ike, Joy Idam of Weekender Magazine, Abdulkadir Yusuf of Liberty Television and Radio and many other over a purported petition written against them.
Some other members received invitations through sms and phone calls from one ASP Ibe Eko asking them to report at X squad FCT CID at wuye by finance quarters Abuja over alleged defamation of character and cyber bullying.
The letter dated 25th November 2024 with the reference CR: 3000/FIB/FHQ/ABJ//TH/VOL.S6 /86 was brought to the FCT Council Secretariat of the Union located at Utako by one officer Sunny Onuh.
The statement read: “Our attention has been drawned to a police invitation letter signed by CP Olajide Rufus Ibitoye on behalf of Deputy Inspector General of Police Force Intelligence Department ( FID ) addressed to our former Chairman, Comrade Jide Oyekunle, former Vice Chairman, Ms Grace Ike. Mrs. Joy Idam and Abdulkadir Yusuf of Liberty Television and Radio asking them to report to one CSP Mahmood D. Mohammed on Thursday 28th November 2024 at Room 118 1st floor FIB complex, area 11, Garki, Abuja.
“While we are not averse to the right of citizens to seek redress over legitimate infringement on their rights but for the police to specifically target some of our members perceived to be supporting a particular candidate is absurd, ridiculous and unacceptable.
“The Police invitation of our members particularly this time when the Council election is by the corner speaks volumes and leaves much to be desired on the script and interest the police is trying to serve.
“The Nigeria police should be remanded that this is a union election and they have no right to victimise, intimidate or coerce any of our members into silence under the pretext of a frivolous and malicious and allegations of character defamation by those who have lost their integrity in the union.
“We hereby use this medium to appeal to the Inspector General of Police ( IGP ), Kayode Egbetokun and FCT Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu to call his officers to order and not to be teleguided and cajoled by the so-called petitioners.
“Anybody that feels defamed or offended should approach the court and seek redress by filing a lawsuit against the person and stop hiding under the Nigeria police in the name of using Cybercrime Act to harass and hound our members”.
The union use this medium to advise the Police to stay within the dictate of the Amended Cybercrime Act 2024 and focus on its statutory role of maintaining law and order before, during and after the election of the union.
“The union will no longer tolerate any further vilification of any of our members by the faceless people and we will resist any attempt by the police to meddle into our union affairs,” it warned.
