Thread by @savndaniel

THE INSPECTOR GENERAL @PoliceNG,
MOHAMMED ADAMU
Force Headquarters

Sir,

A COMPLAINT AGAINST ONE SHETIMA YERIMA, THE LEADER OF THE AREWA YOUTH FORUM, FOR INCITING THE PUBLIC, THREATENING TO GO TO WAR CONTRARY TO SECTION 114, 399 AND 417 OF THE PENAL CODE ACT

1. I most respectfully write as a responsible and patriotic citizen whose primary duty it is to observe and uphold the extant laws governing the corporate existence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of Nigeria,

as outlined in section 24 (a) (b) (e) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

2. I respectfully advert you to the inflammatory, vexatious and provocative utterance made by Shetima Yerima, the Leader of Arewa Youth Forum, a pressure group in Northern Nigeria, threatening to go to war with the Igbos if they do not open their borders to Almajiris.

3. What is more frightening is the threat by Yerima to institute a repeat of the Civil War of 1967, being a bloodbath event that has the capacity of causing a nationwide unrest, that may lead to war. That singular event is an aspect of our history we do not wish to remember.

4. Agreed that every citizen of this country is entitled to the Constitutional Right to freedom of Expression: UKEGBU v. N.B.C. (2007)14 NWLR (PT.1055)551.

However, that right is not absolute as stated in section 45 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and given judicial recognition in the case of IGP v. A.N.P.P.(2007) 18 NWLR (PT. 1067) 457 and N.U.E.E. v. B.P.E. (2010) ALL FWLR (PT. 525) 201.

5. From an online source (omokoshaban.com/2020/05/06/the…) where Yerima is reported to have made the inflammatory, it is obvious that Yerima is ready to carry out his threat. Attached to this tweet is a picture of Yerima Shetima and a screen grabbed copy of his Inflammatory statement.

6. Respectfully sir, section 1 (2) of the 1999 Constitution provides to the effect that, Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall any persons or group of person stake control of the Government of Nigeria or any part thereof: P.D.P v. C.P.C (2011) 17 NWLR (PT. 1277) 485 at 511.

7. Sir, as a senior citizen of this country, you will recall that this is not the first time this kind of threat has been issued. It is statement of this nature that led the buildup to the Civil war, and other sister ethnic crises in Nigeria.

8. S. 114 of the Penal Code Act states Whoever does an act with intent to cause or which is likely TO CAUSE A BREACH OF THE PEACE OR DISTURB THE PUBLIC PEACE shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to N600 or with both.

9. Sir, accordingly, section 399 of the same Penal Code Act provides that WHOEVER USES INSULTING OR ABUSIVE LANGUAGE CONCERNING, OR OTHERWISE CONDUCTS HIMSELF TOWARDS, A PERSON OR CLASS OR GROUP OF PERSONS,

10. whether the person or any member of that class or group is present or not, in a manner likely to give the PROVOCATION to a person present as to cause the last mentioned person to break the public peace or

11. to commit any other offence shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or
with fine or with both.

12. Similarly, section 417
of the Penal Code Act states that whoever, seeks to EXCITE HATRED OR CONTEMPT AGAINST ANY CLASS OF PERSONS IN SUCH A WAY AS TO ENDANGER THE PUBLIC PEACE, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or

12. with fine or with both.

Ever since Yemi Shetima made that highly inciting and provocative statement, the cyberspace and States in the East and North has been up in tension.

13. I most humbly lodge this complaint to you with the hope that the said Yemi Shetima will be brought to book so that he will know and appreciate the fact that Nigeria is not a lawless society,

14. and that by virtue of section 4 of the Nigeria Police Act, the Police have a wide and expensive powers to bring offenders to answer to their crime(s).

Please, do accept my fondest regards as I await your prompt and positive action.