N20bn ALLEGED FRAUD: IGP Idris runs to court to stop Senate probe

In efforts to stop the Senate from investigating his alleged N20 billion fraud, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has run to the court to stop the move by the lawmakers.

In a suit he instituted before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Idris is praying for an order restraining the Senate and Saraki from going ahead with their plan to investigate his alleged malpractices in the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).

An All Progressives Congress (APC) senator and a former police officer, who represents Bauchi Central senatorial district, Isah Misau, had accused the IGP of being involved in sharp practices amounting to about N20 billion.

Among other things, he accused Idris of collecting about N10 billion monthly from some firms and highly-placed Nigerians for providing security cover for them.

Misau, who is also the chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, had further accused Idris of granting fraudulent promotions to undeserving police operatives and extorting money, in the amounts of N10 million to N15 million, from Commissioners of Police, State Mobile Commanders and Special Protection Units Commanders, for favourable postings.

Misau argued that the alarming level corruption involving the IGP has the capacity of undermining President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption posture.

However the IGP had denied all the claims and described Misau as a disaster, just as the Force Headquarters accused Misau of leaving the force with forged retirement papers.

But the IGP in the fundamental rights enforcement suit he filed at the court and marked FCT/HC/CV/3158/17, prayed the court to declare that the Senate committee set up to probe the allegations, as well as the conduct of the committee are unconstitutional, null and void.

He further prayed the court to give an order mandating the committee from neither inviting him, sitting, conducting any hearing on the allegation, discussing nor making any report in respect of the intended investigation pending the determination of his suit.

Idris contended through his counsel, Charles Ogolu that the Senate President, had without regard to relevant constitutional requirements in respect of the role of the Senate in investigations of allegations, set up the committee “in reaction to these frivolous allegations” by Misau.

The IGP further stated, “The applicant is a law-abiding citizen and has fundamental right to dignity of person under Section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) (as amended), and Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

“The applicant occupies a hallowed office as the Inspector-General of Police in Nigeria and is thus in charge of all police officers in Nigeria.

“One Senator Isa Misau, a member of the 2nd respondent (Senate), while raising a matter of urgent national importance, had sometime between September and October 2017, alleged that the applicant instituted roadblocks across Nigeria with the purpose of extorting money from unsuspecting motorists.

“The said Senator, while commenting on his motion, equally alleged that the applicant collects illegal fees by way of security protection given to corporate organisations, eminent citizens and oil companies running into billions of naira.

“The said Senator equally rained a personal attack on the person of the applicant that the applicant is having unwholesome relationship with the female officers in the force.

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“Without the 1st respondent (Saraki), having regard to the relevant constitutional requirements in respect of the 2nd respondent’s role in investigations of allegations, he, in reaction to these frivolous allegations, quickly constituted a committee consisting members of the 2nd Respondent to look into the matter.”

He then argued that “the act of the first respondent (Saraki) in constituting the committee is ultra vires, unconstitutional, null and void. The said committee so constituted is acting ultra vires, unconstitutional, null and void.”

This came as the Federal Government had on Tuesday, through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, initiated two separate set of charges against Misau.

Government accused Misau in one of the suits of spreading injurious falsehood against the IGP.

 

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