SENATE DECLARES IGP ENEMY OF DEMOCRACY, UNFIT FOR PUBLIC OFFICE

Despite his refusal to honour the invitation by the Senate for the third time in one month, the Nigerian Senate on Thursday issued a fresh summon to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to appear before it and explain what the police is doing on the spate of killings in some parts of the country.

Idris failure to appear before the upper chamber on Wednesday resulted in the Senate declaring the IG as an enemy of democracy who is unfit to hold any political office within and outside Nigeria.

Idris had been invited to explain alleged inhuman treatment meted out to Senator Dino Melaye who was arrested by the police over allegations bordering on gunrunning; as well as addressing the lawmakers on the spate of killings in different parts of the country.

After submissions from members including the Senate Majority Leader, Ahmad Lawan, the Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha and Senators Isa Misau and Eyinnaya Abribe, who all expressed displeasure at the attitude of the IG, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, ruled that the Senate go on a closed-door session to deliberate on the IG’s non-appearance.

When the Senators rose from the session, Saraki read the resolution declaring Idris an enemy of democracy and unfit for public office within or outside Nigeria.

The IG responded to the Senate resolution by accusing the Senate of blackmail and witch-hunt, saying the reasons for which the Senate summoned him were official and not personal and as such he could delegate senior officers in the rank of Deputy Inspector General or Assistant Inspector General of Police to represent him as stated in both the 1999 Constitution as amended and the Police Act and Regulations.

The IG also said he already sent a letter to the President of the Senate stating that he would not be appearing before it on Wednesday due to legal restraint over the pending court cases between Senator Dino Melaye and the IGP and the Nigeria Police; as well as the case between the IGP and the Nigerian Senate.

Thursday’s summon as posted in a statement on the Senate’s Twitter handle @NGRSenate and signed by its spokesperson, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, said the IG “should not hold on to the straw on why he refused to comply with the invitation of the Senate for him to come and explain what the police are doing on the spate of killings across the country.”

“…The crux of the matter that informed the invitation is the ceaseless spate of killings across the country and that matters concerning the arrest of Senator Dino Melaye has in fact been overtaken by events,” the statement said.