A week after the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris failed to appear before the senate, for the third consecutive time, Dr. Bukola Saraki has raised the alarm that the police boss has concluded plans to implicate him.
The senate president alleged that some cultists who were arrested in Kwara have been shipped to Abuja, where he claimed they would be coerced t
• Alleges grand plan to coerce criminals to implicate him, Kwara gov
Fred Itua, Molly Kilete Abuja and Layi Olanrewaju, Ilorin
A week after the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris failed to appear before the senate, for the third consecutive time, Dr. Bukola Saraki has raised the alarm that the police boss has concluded plans to implicate him.
The senate president alleged that some cultists who were arrested in Kwara have been shipped to Abuja, where he claimed they would be coerced to make confessional statements to implicate him and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.
Saraki said the intelligence report was passed to him by Governor Ahmed.
Prior to the announcement, the Senate had a 45-minute closed-door session where the issue was extensively discussed.
At plenary, Saraki announced: “My Distinguished colleagues, there is an issue which I need to bring to your attention very urgently. Last night (Tuesday night), my state governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed revealed to me an information at his disposal that a group of suspects who had been in police cells for several weeks for cultism and whose investigation had been concluded with prosecution about to commence under the state law based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the Ministry of Justice were ordered to be transferred to Abuja this morning (yesterday).
“According to the information available to the governor, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Idris Ibrahim directed the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State to immediately transfer the men to the Force Headquarters.
“The plan, as the governor was made to understand is that, under duress, the suspects would be made to alter the statements they already made in Ilorin. They will then be made to implicate the Kwara State Government, and in particular, myself, in their new statement.
“This plot is part of the strategy by the IGP Idris to settle scores over the declaration by this honourable Chamber that he is not qualified and competent to hold any public office, within and outside the country and that he is an enemy of Nigerian democracy based on his usual disrespectful conduct towards lawful authorities.
“In my own view, this plot is an act of desperation, blackmail, intimidation, abuse of office and crude tactics aimed at turning our country into a Police State where top officials cannot be made to obey the law, follow due process and subject themselves to constituted authorities.
“I want to bring this dangerous development to the attention of all of you my colleagues, the entire country and the international community so that you can be aware of the level of impunity in our country and the danger it constitute to our democracy.”
After the announcement, Saraki moved on to accommodate other businesses of the day. He was, however, interrupted by Senator Godswill Akpabio, who raised a point of order that the issue be discussed and a resolution taken.
Akpabio’s position was supported by the Deputy Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, who called on Saraki to step aside and allow his deputy, Ike Ekweremandu, to preside.
At the end, it was resolved that the leadership of the senate meet with President Muhammadu Buhari and formally report the issue to him for necessary action.
Supporting Marafa’s position, Lawal said other issues affecting the senate should also be tabled before Buhari to take action and do the needful.
Saraki, Lawan, Olusola Adeyeye, Akpabio, Danjuma Goje, Adamu, Samuel Egwu, Aliyu Wamakko, Oluremi Tinubu and Fatima Rasaki were named as those to visit Buhari. No date has been announced when the team would meet with Buhari.
Polce reacts
But the police have described Saraki’s claim as unbelievable, untrue, misleading and obstruction of Justice. It advised the senate president to stop interfering with police investigation.
According to the Police spokesman, Moshood Jimoh, in a statement: “The Nigeria Police Force is shocked at the unbelievable claims, unverifiable allegations and unfounded accusations being peddled against the IGP by the senate president, accusing the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim K. Idris, of plot and strategies against him to settle scores.
“The Force, therefore, wishes to categorically state that there is no iota of truth in the allegation and false assertion by the senate president of plot against him by the IGP to implicate the Kwara State Government and the senate president in any criminal matter. Until investigation is concluded, any person(s) or group(s) who tries to interfere in the investigation process by action or utterances is committing an offence.”
Notwithstanding the rebuttal, hundreds of youths, yesterday, staged a peaceful protest to the Kwara State Government House, Ilorin, even as government expressed concern over the transfer of four suspected cultists arrested in the state, by the state police command to Abuja.
Leader of the youths under the aegis of Kwara Agenda, Taofiq Olateju told Governor Ahmed that the plot was to link Saraki with a murder case involving one Lanre Mohammed Soliu, who was recently paraded by the police in the state over alleged involvement in cult related murders.
The protesters carried several placards with inscriptions such as, “Fresh plot to frame Saraki uncovered”, “Stop intimidating Saraki”, “We stand with Saraki.”
o make confessional statements to implicate him and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.
Saraki said the intelligence report was passed to him by Governor Ahmed.
Prior to the announcement, the Senate had a 45-minute closed-door session where the issue was extensively discussed.
At plenary, Saraki announced: “My Distinguished colleagues, there is an issue which I need to bring to your attention very urgently. Last night (Tuesday night), my state governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed revealed to me an information at his disposal that a group of suspects who had been in police cells for several weeks for cultism and whose investigation had been concluded with prosecution about to commence under the state law based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the Ministry of Justice were ordered to be transferred to Abuja this morning (yesterday).
“According to the information available to the governor, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Idris Ibrahim directed the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State to immediately transfer the men to the Force Headquarters.
“The plan, as the governor was made to understand is that, under duress, the suspects would be made to alter the statements they already made in Ilorin. They will then be made to implicate the Kwara State Government, and in particular, myself, in their new statement.
“This plot is part of the strategy by the IGP Idris to settle scores over the declaration by this honourable Chamber that he is not qualified and competent to hold any public office, within and outside the country and that he is an enemy of Nigerian democracy based on his usual disrespectful conduct towards lawful authorities.
“In my own view, this plot is an act of desperation, blackmail, intimidation, abuse of office and crude tactics aimed at turning our country into a Police State where top officials cannot be made to obey the law, follow due process and subject themselves to constituted authorities.
“I want to bring this dangerous development to the attention of all of you my colleagues, the entire country and the international community so that you can be aware of the level of impunity in our country and the danger it constitute to our democracy.”
After the announcement, Saraki moved on to accommodate other businesses of the day. He was, however, interrupted by Senator Godswill Akpabio, who raised a point of order that the issue be discussed and a resolution taken.
Akpabio’s position was supported by the Deputy Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, who called on Saraki to step aside and allow his deputy, Ike Ekweremandu, to preside.
At the end, it was resolved that the leadership of the senate meet with President Muhammadu Buhari and formally report the issue to him for necessary action.
Supporting Marafa’s position, Lawal said other issues affecting the senate should also be tabled before Buhari to take action and do the needful.
Saraki, Lawan, Olusola Adeyeye, Akpabio, Danjuma Goje, Adamu, Samuel Egwu, Aliyu Wamakko, Oluremi Tinubu and Fatima Rasaki were named as those to visit Buhari. No date has been announced when the team would meet with Buhari.
Polce reacts
But the police have described Saraki’s claim as unbelievable, untrue, misleading and obstruction of Justice. It advised the senate president to stop interfering with police investigation.
According to the Police spokesman, Moshood Jimoh, in a statement: “The Nigeria Police Force is shocked at the unbelievable claims, unverifiable allegations and unfounded accusations being peddled against the IGP by the senate president, accusing the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim K. Idris, of plot and strategies against him to settle scores.
“The Force, therefore, wishes to categorically state that there is no iota of truth in the allegation and false assertion by the senate president of plot against him by the IGP to implicate the Kwara State Government and the senate president in any criminal matter. Until investigation is concluded, any person(s) or group(s) who tries to interfere in the investigation process by action or utterances is committing an offence.”
Notwithstanding the rebuttal, hundreds of youths, yesterday, staged a peaceful protest to the Kwara State Government House, Ilorin, even as government expressed concern over the transfer of four suspected cultists arrested in the state, by the state police command to Abuja.
Leader of the youths under the aegis of Kwara Agenda, Taofiq Olateju told Governor Ahmed that the plot was to link Saraki with a murder case involving one Lanre Mohammed Soliu, who was recently paraded by the police in the state over alleged involvement in cult related murders.
The protesters carried several placards with inscriptions such as, “Fresh plot to frame Saraki uncovered”, “Stop intimidating Saraki”, “We stand with Saraki.”
-Sun
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