Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Senate Wednesday described the Inspector General of Police; Mr. Ibrahim Idris, is an enemy of democracy and unfit for public office as the IG failed to honour the invitation of the Senate for the third time.
The Senate had invited the IGP to appear before it on April 26, May 2 and May 9, but the IG refused to honour the invitation.
As at Tuesday the Senate President, Dr Bukola and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Saraki had indicated that the IG had been ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari to appear before the Senate Wednesday.
This was after a meeting with Buhari in the State House, Abuja.
But after waiting for a long time Wednesday, it became clear that the IG was not going to honour invitation.
Following this development, the Senate went into closed door session after which Saraki addressed newsmen and said the IG was an enemy of democracy and unfit for public office.
Saraki said, “The Senate noted that this has been a gross disrespect to our constituted authority and to also know that his earlier refusal to appear before an investigative committee was overruled by a competent court of jurisdiction just in April this year.
“The Senate therefore views this persistent refusal as a great danger to our democracy and hence the Senate resolved to declare the IG as an enemy of democracy and not fit to hold any public office within and outside Nigeria.
“The leadership of the Senate was also mandated to look into the matter for further necessary action.” .
Other senators described the attitude of the IG as very unfortunate.
The Majority Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police, Senator Abu Ibrahim, said they have been unable to reach the IG.
Lawan said, “Public officers should do what is in the interest of the public. If any officer feels he cannot do what is in public interest, he does not need to occupy such office.”
Senator Isa Hamman Misau (Bauchi APC) said it was clear that the IG was afraid to brief the Senate on security situation in the country.
Misau said, “If what he is doing is right, then why is he refusing to come, unless he is hiding something or he is incompetent.” .
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia PDP) said IG’s behaviour was that of abuse of government power.
He said, “Democracy dies when people abuse governmental power. What we have seen today of the conduct of the chief law officer of the country, is an abuse of governmental power.
“He has no respect for this institution, there is absolutely no way we can dress it up.
“If the chief law officer does not obey the law, how does he expect miscreants to obey the law? If we do not deal with this abuse of power, all of us would regret it, because nothing would stop someone else from doing the same thing”.
However, the IG Wednesday maintained that he owes no one any apology, claiming that the Senate was blackmailing him and trying to force him to pervert justice in the case involving Senator Dino Melaye.
The Police Force spokesman. Mr Jimoh Moshood, in a statement maintained that the IG would not be intimidated.
Moshood said, “In accordance with the extant laws in Nigeria, the functions, duties and responsibilities of the Inspector General of Police as stated in Section 215(1a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, and the Police Act and Regulations Section 309(1) can also be carried out as mentioned in sections 7(1),312(1), 313(2) of the Police Act and Regulations by a senior officer of the Force of the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police or an Assistant Inspector General of Police who, if permitted by the Inspector General of Police to act on his behalf or represent him in an official capacity at any official function, event or programme within and outside Nigeria, can do so in consonant with the provisions of the Police.
However, in response, thenNigeria Police Force on Wednesday said that the Senate resolution declaring the Inspector-General of Police ( IG), Mr Ibrahim Idris as enemy of democracy was a deliberate attempt to blackmail him.
The senate, Led by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, at plenary on Wednesday, declared the I-G as enemy of democracy and unfit to hold any public office within and outside the country for failing to honour its invitation thrice.
The senate had refused the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in-charge of operations and other senior police officers to represent the I-G when he was invited on April 26.
The Force spokesman, ACP Jimoh Moshood, in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday , described it as deliberate blackmail, witch-hunting, unfortunate and mischievous.
Moshood said that under the provisions of the Police Act and Regulations, the I-G could delegate a Deputy or Assistant Inspector-General of Police to represent him in an official capacity at any function.
He explained that Idris sent representatives because he was on an official assignment with the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria to Bauchi on same date.
“The delegated officers went with a brief of the Inspector-General of Police on the matter to the senate but the Senate refused to listen to the Officers.
He said that again on May 2, the senate refused to accord some senior officers delegated to represent the I-G when he was on an official duty to Birnin-Gwari area of Kaduna state.
The spokesman said that the I-G on May 8, sent a letter to the President of the Senate explaining why he would not be appearing before the Senate on May 9.
This he said was due to legal restraint as a result of pending cases before the courts filed by Sen. Dino Melaye against the I-G and the Nigeria Police Force.
“It is pertinent that the Force informs the members of the Public that other reasons for which the Senate has summoned the Inspector-General of Police is official and not personal.
“The action of the Senate in its resolution against the IG today is a deliberate blackmail, witch-hunting with mischievous motives to hand-twist the I- G to pervert the end of Justice.
“The Nigeria Police Force is the first defender of democracy and all democratic institutions in Nigeria and will continue to do so.
“It is factual and verifiable that Sen. Dino Melaye was discharged and certified fit to stand trial by the National Hospital, Abuja before he was arraigned in Chief Magistrate Courts in Wuse, Abuja and Lokoja,” he said.
He said that the I-G and the Nigeria Police Force would not be deterred by blackmail from any individual or group no matter how highly placed from the enforcement of Law and Order.
“The Nigeria Police Force, therefore, owes no apology to any individual or groups in its effort to ensure preservation of law and order and supremacy of the law of the land.” he said.
Moshood implored the public to disregard and discountenance the resolution of the Senate on the I-G.
“The Nigeria Police Force as a law abiding organization will continue to hold the Senate of Federal Republic of Nigeria in high esteem but wishes to impress on the Senate not to harbour criminal elements among its fold or condone criminality.
“The Force will not be intimidated by any individual, groups or institution, constituent or otherwise to abdicate from its constitutional responsibilities of protection of lives and property,” he said.