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The Senate has insisted that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, is unfit for public office. In a statement by its spokesman, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the upper legislative chamber pointed out that the invitation of the Idris was based on the spate of killings across the country.
According to the statement, the arrest and detention of the embattled Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dino Melaye, has been overtaken by events.
On Wednesday, the Senate declared Idris as an “enemy of democracy and unfit to hold public office within and outside Nigeria”, after failing to personally appear before plenary after three summons.
But in a swift reaction, police Spokesperson, Moshood Jimoh, argued that the attack on his person by the senators was “deliberate blackmail, witch-hunting with mischievous motives to hand-twist” his boss.
But in a statement on Thursday, the Senate spokesperson warned the IG not to play on the intelligence of members of the public with his diversionary statement.
The statement reads: “We noted the response issued by one Jimoh Moshood on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, following yesterday’s resolution of the legislative chamber on the continued refusal of the IGP to honour the invitation for him to come and explain what the police are doing to halt the spate of killings across the country.
“Let it be known that the IGP by trying to reduce the reason for his invitation by the Senate to the arrest of Sen. Dino Melaye is simply holding on to straw. The issue of Sen. Melaye’s arrest has been overtaken by events. The courts are already handling the related cases. Our main concern is the security crisis across the country where people are being killed in scores on daily basis.
“The primary responsibility of the Police is maintenance of law and order, as well as protection of lives and property. If there is a breach along the line of this responsibility, we do not see why the IGP should feel he cannot be invited to offer explanation to the arm of government which is constitutionally empowered to ask questions and investigate the breach.
“No responsible body of representives of the people will ignore sad reports given by members on the floor of the Senate. For instance, on April 24, two Catholic priests and and 17 members of their congregation were murdered as reported by Senator George Akume.
“Also, Senators Kabir Marafa and Tijani Kaura had earlier intimated the Senate of the killing of 35 people in Maradun LGA, over 100 people killed in Anka and 36 people killed in Birani Village in Zurmi LGA, all in Zamfara State. Even as at now, reports reaching us showed that recent killings have occurred in Kaduna, Taraba and Benue States. These were just few instances of daily occurrences of gruesome murder of our constituents as raised by Senators. The IGP definitely should not have any problem with an invitation for him to tell the Senate what he and his men are doing to stop the killings as well as their challenges and needs in doing this.
“In one instance in the past, Idris had gone to court in order to evade honouring the invitation of the Senate and the court headed by Justice Abba Bello Mohammed of the FCT High Court on April 10, 2018, told him in clear terms that his suit lacked merit as Sections 88 and 89 of the constitution empowers the lawmakers to carry out investigations on issues of public interest.
“Any public officer who plans to place himself above an arm of government obviously is not fit to remain in office. Mr. Idris is only afraid of his shadow by alleging witch-hunt when he is called to account on the performance of the duties of his organization.”
