Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has called for the immediate prosecution of Francis Fadahunsi, a senator, over his alleged call for the killing of Accord Party members ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.
Mr Effiong’s demand followed the senator representing Osun East Senatorial District honoring a police invitation on Wednesday regarding a viral video in which he allegedly asked All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters to “kill” members of the rival Accord Party.
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Mr Fadahunsi arrived at the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo at about 2:35 p.m. on Wednesday and was accompanied by the Commissioner of Police in charge of election security, Samuel Erale. He was subsequently interrogated and released by the police.
The police invitation followed the circulation of a video in which the senator, speaking in Yoruba during an APC gathering, allegedly made the threatening remark against Accord supporters ahead of the 15 August election.
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Mr Fadahunsi has since sought to explain away the controversial remark, saying he meant that the Accord Party should be “killed” with votes and not through physical violence.
But Mr Effiong rejected the explanation as inadequate, describing it as “pedestrian, childish and feeble.”
PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the National Human Rights Commission called for the arrest and suspension of the senator over the death threat remarks
Effiong demands prosecution
In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Wednesday, Mr Effiong said the alleged statement was particularly dangerous because it was made at a time of heightened political tension in Osun.
“The Senator’s incendiary statement has heightened the already tense political atmosphere in the state, which may lead to a breakdown of law and order and negatively affect voter turnout in the forthcoming election,” he said.
He said the statement could incite APC supporters against Accord members and supporters of other political parties, while also frightening voters away from exercising their constitutional right to vote.
Mr Effiong called on the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to ensure that the senator is arraigned before a competent court if the investigation establishes a case against him.
“The prosecution of the Senator will equally demonstrate to Nigerians that he is non-partisan and impartial,” he said.
The lawyer linked his demand to what he described as the police’s earlier handling of Accord Party members arrested over allegations of violence.
He said prosecuting Mr Fadahunsi would be particularly important because the police had arrested members of the Accord Party and allegedly taken them to Abuja over what he described as “yet-to-be-substantiated allegations of violence.”
‘Endorsement of anarchy’
Mr Effiong warned that releasing the senator without further action could damage public confidence in the police and create the impression that politically influential individuals enjoy different standards of treatment.
“Failure to prosecute Senator Fadahunsi in accordance with the law will be interpreted by well-meaning Nigerians as an official endorsement of anarchy and a dangerous signal that certain individuals are above the law,” he said.
He argued that the consequences could extend beyond the present controversy.
READ ALSO: NHRC seeks arrest, suspension of Osun senator over death threat remarks
“Such inaction will not only undermine public confidence in the impartiality and integrity of the Nigeria Police Force, but may also embolden political actors and their supporters to resort to threats, intimidation and violence as tools of political engagement,” he said.
The controversy comes just days before Osun voters are due to elect their governor, amid heightened political activity and competing allegations of violence by the major political camps.
For Mr Effiong, however, the senator’s appearance before the police is only the beginning of the matter. He wants the investigation to culminate in prosecution if the evidence supports criminal charges, arguing that the police response to inflammatory political statements will be a critical test of the force’s neutrality ahead of Saturday’s election.
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