Lawyer Calls for Fadahunsi's Prosecution Over Alleged Threat to Accord Party Members

Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, is demanding the immediate prosecution of Francis Fadahunsi, a senator. This is over his alleged call for the killing of Accord Party members before Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.

Mr Effiong made this demand after Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, responded to a police invitation on Wednesday. This was regarding a viral video where he allegedly urged All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters to “kill” members of the rival Accord Party.

Fadahunsi got to the Osun State Police Command in Osogbo around 2:35 p.m. on Wednesday. He was accompanied by the Commissioner of Police in charge of election security, Samuel Erale. After questioning, he was released by the police.

The police invitation came after a video circulated. In it, the senator spoke in Yoruba at an APC gathering and allegedly made the threatening remarks against Accord supporters ahead of the August 15 election.

Since then, Fadahunsi has tried to explain his controversial remark. He claimed he meant that the Accord Party should be “killed” with votes, not through violence. But Mr Effiong dismissed this explanation, calling it “pedestrian, childish and feeble.”

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the National Human Rights Commission also called for the senator's arrest and suspension due to his death threat remarks. In a statement on his verified Facebook page on Wednesday, Effiong said the senator's comment was especially dangerous. He noted that it was made during a time of high political tension in Osun.

“The Senator’s incendiary statement has heightened the already tense political atmosphere in the state,” he said. “This may lead to a breakdown of law and order and negatively affect voter turnout in the forthcoming election.”

Effiong added that the senator's words could incite APC supporters against Accord members and frighten voters from exercising their constitutional right to vote. He urged the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to ensure that the senator is taken to court if the investigation finds evidence against him.

“The prosecution of the Senator will also show Nigerians that he is non-partisan and impartial,” he stated. The lawyer connected his demand to how the police previously handled Accord Party members arrested for alleged violence.

He stressed that prosecuting Fadahunsi was important. This is because the police had arrested members of the Accord Party and allegedly taken them to Abuja over what he called “yet-to-be-substantiated allegations of violence.”

Effiong warned that letting the senator go without further action could harm public trust in the police. He said it might suggest that politically powerful people receive different treatment.

“Failure to prosecute Senator Fadahunsi in accordance with the law will be seen by well-meaning Nigerians as an official endorsement of anarchy,” he said. He added that it sends a dangerous message that some individuals are above the law.

He argued that the fallout could go beyond this particular issue. “Such inaction will undermine public confidence in the impartiality and integrity of the Nigeria Police Force,” he said. “It may also encourage political actors and their supporters to use threats, intimidation, and violence as political tools.”

This controversy arises just days before Osun voters are set to choose their governor, amid increased political activity and allegations of violence from major political groups. For Mr Effiong, the senator’s visit to the police is just the start. He hopes the investigation will lead to prosecution if evidence supports criminal charges. He sees the police's response to such inflammatory political statements as a critical test of their neutrality before Saturday’s election.