Police called in as lawyers bicker over Facebook post

Thursday, May 8, 2014

 

Mr Ahmednasir Abdullahi (right) addresses the Press outside CID headquarters in Nairobi on May 8, 2014 after recording a statement over alleged threat messages by an advocate. With him is lawyer Paul Muite. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI  NATION MEDIA GROUP

A former Judicial Service Commission member wants the police to investigate an advocate he claimed threatened him on social media.

Mr Ahmednasir Abdullahi said the alleged warning posted on Facebook by Mr Donald Kipkorir amounts to threats to kill and police should conduct an investigation.

Mr Abdullahi on Thursday recorded a statement with the criminal investigations officers saying that his life was threatened following the Facebook post.

On Wednesday night, Mr Kipkorir allegedly posted on his Facebook page what appeared to be a warning to his colleague, saying that the latter had handled some cases about people from different parts of the country.

Mr Kipkorir allegedly insinuated that he was the only bold person to tell Mr Abdullahi the truth, warning: “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.....Fare thee well friend.”

Mr Abdullahi went to the CID headquarters accompanied by lawyer Paul Muite around 11am and left shortly after 2pm.

He appeared before deputy director of the CID Gideon Kimilu and recorded a statement. He urged the police to speed up the investigations.

When contacted for comment, Mr Kipkorir said he was not ready to issue a statement on the issue. “I am not making any comment until CID Director Ndegwa Muhoro gets back to me officially,” he said through his press officer.

Addressing the media after recording the statement, Mr Muite said they believed that the threats were real and asked the police to investigate with a view to prosecute. “We are reporting to the police not because of cowardice but for the police to investigate and prosecute the suspect,” he said.

Mr Abdullahi said he was not on Facebook but when he was informed of the post, he immediately sent a short text message to Mr Kipkorir who only said that he had confirmed that Mr Abdullahi was a coward.

The Law Society of Kenya chairman had earlier said that they would handle the matter but Mr Abdullahi dismissed the attempt saying that was purely the work of the police.

“You do not mediate threats to kill or murder,” Mr Abdullahi said.