Former executives of the Nigerian Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, Barrister Christoher Green, Barrister Musa Amadu and Alhaji Shehu Dikko have threatened a court action against the State Security Service (SSS) and the Police over what they described as “incessant invitations and unlawful detention” if they do not desist from the act.
In a letter sent to the concerned parties, the former executives, represented by Festus Keyamo chambers urged the authorities to desist from harassing his client’s in order not to undermine the authority and jurisdiction of the court which is now seised of this matter.
The letter read: “We are counsel to Alhaji Aminu Maigari, Barrister Christopher Green, Barrister Musa Amadu and Alhaji Shehu Dikko (hereinafter referred to as ‘our client’) and on whose instructions we write to you.
“Our client informed us that upon their arrival from the FIFA World Cup Competition in Brazil on 4th July, 2014, they were arrested by your men and operatives and detained at the SSS headquarters. Our clients further briefed us that subsequently, they have been receiving series of invitations from both the State Security Service and the Nigeria Police and that when they honour those invitations despite their busy schedules, they are detained for hours without any information as to the reason for their invitation.
“Owing to the foregoing and acting on our clients’ instructions, we have instituted an action in the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking declarative and injunctive reliefs for the enforcement of our clients’ fundamental rights. Find attached the court processes.
“We are by this letter giving you notice of the pendency of this suit and respectfully urging you to desist from carrying out any action that will undermine the authority and jurisdiction of the court which is now seised of this matter. Please find attached a copy of the originating processes in this suit.
“We hope you realise that any action on your part in form of continuous invitations, harassments, arrests and detentions will undermine the authority of the court in this regard.
“We understand that these various harassments are designed to scuttle the Nigerian Football Federation Congress slated for the 30th of September, 2014 in Warri, Delta State, and your actions are at the behest of those who intend to scuttle the congress as they do not mean well for Nigerian Football. Kindly note that if your actions precipitate a crises that bungles the Congress, our clients shall not be held responsible for any fate that befalls our football from FIFA.
“We look forward to your co-operation in the circumstance.
Friday, September 26, 2014
1. The Director-General,
State Security Service,
Aso Drive,
Abuja.
2.The Inspector-General of Police,
Force Headquarters,
Louis Edet House,
Central Area,
Abuja.
Dear Sir,
INCESSANT INVITATIONS AND UNLAWFUL DETENTION OF ALHAJI AMINU MAIGARI, BARRISTER CHRISTOHER GREEN, BARRISTER MUSA AMADU AND ALHAJI SHEHU DIKKO
We are counsel to Alhaji Aminu Maigari, Barrister Christopher Green, Barrister Musa Amadu and Alhaji Shehu Dikko (hereinafter referred to as ‘our client’) and on whose instructions we write to you.
Our client informed us that upon their arrival from the FIFA World Cup Competition in Brazil on 4th July, 2014, they were arrested by your men and operatives and detained at the SSS headquarters. Our clients further briefed us that subsequently, they have been receiving series of invitations from both the State Security Service and the Nigeria Police and that when they honour those invitations despite their busy schedules, they are detained for hours without any information as to the reason for their invitation.
Owing to the foregoing and acting on our clients’ instructions, we have instituted an action in the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking declarative and injunctive reliefs for the enforcement of our clients’ fundamental rights. Find attached the court processes.
We are by this letter giving you notice of the pendency of this suit and respectfully urging you to desist from carrying out any action that will undermine the authority and jurisdiction of the court which is now seised of this matter. Please find attached a copy of the originating processes in this suit.
We hope you realise that any action on your part in form of continuous invitations, harassments, arrests and detentions will undermine the authority of the court in this regard.
We understand that these various harassments are designed to scuttle the Nigerian Football Federation Congress slated for the 30th of September, 2014 in Warri, Delta State, and your actions are at the behest of those who intend to scuttle the congress as they do not mean well for Nigerian Football. Kindly note that if your actions precipitate a crises that bungles the Congress, our clients shall not be held responsible for any fate that befalls our football from FIFA.
We look forward to your co-operation in the circumstance.
Thank you.
Yours most trusted,
FESTUS KEYAMO, ESQ.
Head of Chambers