Modupe Alakija Replies Secretary of Ikoyi Club 38 Over Alleged Assault of Member

A letter written by Modupe Alakija, husband of billionaire businesswoman, Folorunsho Alakija to defend his alleged assault of a member of Ikoyi Club 38 has been made available to First Weekly Magazine.

The letter, dated October 27, 2021, which called for the attention of the Honourary Secretary of the urbane club, was entitled; “Re: 2nd Invitation-Physical Assault And Abuse of Mr. Ashish Gajjar G992.”

In the letter, Modupe Alakija admitted receiving the e-mail sent to him, and reminded the committee set up by the club that he objected to the hearing relating to the complaint of assault, which he said is a criminal matter that the committee could not handle.

Alakija explained in the letter that evidence had been given to the committee that he went into the premises of the club with his police escort, adding that the police escort was in his car and only went down to open the door of his car in front of the Club House and drove away.

He stated that the said police escort never stepped into the Club House, and that on entering the club he observed all the protocols including the wearing of mask.

“There was a friendly discussion between the protocol staff and I on whether an Officer of the Nigerian Police Force duly empowered and armed under an extant Law of the National Assembly could be stopped from entering any premises in Nigeria except certain parts of airports and airplanes.

“That my mask was taken off while having the said debate with the protocol staff.

“All these took place at the entry point and not in any other part of the Club House.

“The Complainant, without knowing the subject of the debate and without showing any form of decorum, with all arrogance, rudely and crudely shouted at me to put on my mask. All your staff testified to this crude and rude intervention.

“In reply to his crude and unethical manner, I told him to fuck off and mind his business,” he said in the reply.

He however added that in gross violation of his constitutionally guaranteed right to privacy, the man brought out his camera and started to videotape him without his consent and or permission.

According to him, on his refusal to delete the photos as he demanded, he decided to hold on to his shirt in order to stop him from absconding and taking his picture away with him.

The letter reads further: “The Inspector General, in his discretion decided to give me a police escort as I am at a risk of being kidnapped.

“My photograph might end up in the hands of kidnappers or assassins that prowl the streets of Nigeria. It was therefore necessary to stop him from going away with my photographs.

“The Complainant, in his letter admitted that he knew that the Club had its own CCTV, but being a busy-body, and in gross violation of my Constitutionally guaranteed right, decided, out of his disregard for the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to carry out his illegal act.”

He the stated that he waived the rights to view the said CCTV footage recording, stressing that he did not see its usefulness to the case, more especially as the case of assaults is not before the Committee.

Alakija revealed that he had commenced proceedings against the Complainant “at the High Court for a grant of relief for the breach of my Constitutionally guaranteed right.”

While stating that he was out of the country for medical treatment and did not know, when he would be back, he said that the matter is now sub judice as he has served the Complainant with a notice of intention to commence legal proceedings (Pre-Action Notice).