Society Gists

Following the illegal detention of the famous journalist and former chairman of All Progressives Congress – Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC) in Ogun State, Otunba Femi Davies, since August 7, 2023, by the Department of State Services (DSS), his lawyer has demanded his unconditional release.

Recall that Otunba Davies was detained when he honored an invitation extended to him by the agency on the fateful day.

According to information made available to Societygists , the lawyer, Ikechukwu Chunuwe Esq., revealed that Otunba Davies was contacted on his phone by one Michael, requesting him to come down to the DSS office at Oke Mosan to assist in an ongoing investigation.

Chunuwe revealed that it was shocking to note that since he was dropped off at the DSS office, he has remained incommunicado.
He is therefore requesting his immediate release.

Read the full letter below.

REQUEST FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF MR. FEMI DAVIES
We are Solicitors to Mr. Femi Davies (hereinafter referred to as our Client) and on whose behalf we write to you and requesting for the immediate release of our client, who has been in your custody since the 7th of August, 2023.

Our Client was called from your office by one Michael with a phone number: 09031937290 on Friday the 4th of August, 2023 requesting our Client to appear at your office on that same day to assist in an investigation. He was invited to your office on account that he will be assisting you. He was made to understand that he will leave almost immediately on the same day he comes. He was not arrested nor informed of any crime or offence that he has committed as at the time of the phone call invitation.

Our client honoured the invitation on the 7th of August, 2023 after he was dropped off at your office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State. As at now he has not been heard from since entering into your premises.

It is pertinent to note that I was at your office on the 8th of August, 2023 between 10 : 30a.m and 12: 00pm following a brief by members of our client’s family. I was however denied access to see our client. Following this development, I put several calls across to the said Micheal with phone number 09031937290 without any response. The said Micheal who returned the call hours later confirmed his name to be Michael but said he does not know of any Femi Davies.

It is also pertinent to note that our client made calls on his phone to some people to come to your office in Abeokuta to join him in assisting with your purported investigation. We have been made to understand that from the way our client spoke, he was/is distressed.
The family members of our client in the circumstances have now come to the conclusion and have every reason to so do, that the act of your office against our client is and remain unconstitutional.
Your continued detention of our client since the 7th of August, 2023 is illegal and against the clear provisions of our law. Our Client has been unconstitutionally detained in your office and was never told the reason for the invitation and his detention.
Our Client is a citizen of Nigeria who enjoys all the constitutional rights enshrined under Part IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) particularly Section 35 (1), (3) and (5) (a).

Be informed that it has been more than 24hours since the detention of our client without any information on the reason for his detention and access to his counsel. This is a flagrant violation of the constitutional rights of our Client and against the spirit of the provisions of Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution.
To this effect we call for the immediate release of our client whose right has been clearly violated and our client should not be harmed in any way.
In the event that the demand for the immediate release of our client is not given the due regard it deserves, twenty-four hours after service of this letter on your office, we shall have no choice but to institute necessary action for the enforcement of the fundamental right of our client against you.
Thank you.