Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has reacted to his summons by the Senate over the arrest of Senator Dino Melaye.
The police boss warned the legislature not to personalise the issue, or trivialize the law indicting Melaye.
According to him, “The Nigeria Police Force is a law abiding organization and holds the Senate and its leadership in high esteem, however the Force wishes to impress on the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria not to personalize or trivialize the criminal offenses (Criminal Conspiracy and Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Firearms and other sundry offenses) indicting Sen. Dino Melaye from confessions of two (2) suspected kidnappers and Armed Robbers namely: Kabiru Saidu a.k.a Osama and Nuhu Salisu a.k.a Small; but should allow the rule of law and justice to prevail”.
Idris, said that there was nothing illegal in his failure to honour in person, the Senate summon over issues involving Senator Dino Melaye, who is under arrest at the National Hospital Abuja.
The IGP, who traveled with President Muhammadu Buhari to Bauchi State same day he was meant to be at the Senate, argued that his action of sending a senior officer to represent him at the Senate was in order and constitutional.
The Senate had asked the IGP to appear before it on Thursday over the way Senator Melaye was maltreated by men of the Nigerian Police.
Melaye, who represents Kogi West at the Senate, had jumped out of police vehicle and injured himself, after he tried to escape from police transporting him to Kogi State to answer for allegations of gunrunning and false assassination claim.
Idris’ failure to honour the Senate summon in person did not go down well with the lawmakers who extended a fresh invitation for him to appear before its plenary next Wednesday.
But justifying his action in a statement on Friday through police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, the IGP said his official assignment to Bauchi warranted his sending the Deputy Inspector General of Police, in charge of Operations, to represent him at the Senate.
“The functions, duties and responsibilities of the Inspector General of Police as listed in Section 215 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can also be carried out as mentioned in section 312 (1) of the Police Act and Regulation by a senior officer of the Force of the Rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police and Assistant Inspector General of Police who if permitted by the Inspector General of Police to act on his behalf or represent him in official capacity at any function, event or programme within and outside Nigeria can do so in consonant with the provisions of the Police Act and Regulation.
“It is on the basis of the above that while the Inspector General of Police is on an official assignment in Bauchi State that he delegated the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations to represent him and honour the invitation of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria in respect of the felonious offenses for which Sen. Dino Melaye was taken into Police custody, investigated and to be arraigned in the Federal High Court, Lokoja without further delay.
”Consequently, the general public are hereby implored to note that the Inspector General of Police acted rightly in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Police Act and Regulation and other extant laws by delegating the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations to represent him at the Senate, National Assembly today 26th April, 2018 to present the Police report, actions and findings in a case of Criminal Conspiracy and Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Firearms and other sundry offenses indicting Senator Dino Melaye.
