Wike desperate to stop rerun probe, IG tells court

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit by Governor Nyesom Wike, seeking to stop police investigation into various acts of criminality perpetrated during the December 10, 2016 rerun in the state.

Idris stated in a notice of preliminary objection that Wike was, by his suit, seeking to cover his (Wike’s) tracks.

The two plaintiffs, who filed the suit, were the Office of the Governor of Rivers State (first plaintiff) and Wike in person (second plaintiff).

The respondents are the Inspector-General of Police, the State Security Service and a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Damian Okoro.

The IGP and Okoro, through their lawyer, Mr. Deji Morakinyo of Mr. Femi Falana’s law firm, filed the notice of preliminary objection, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.

Idris and Okoro described the suit as a reflection of Wike’s desperate move to pre-empt the outcome of the investigation by the police Special Investigating Panel into the crimes committed during the rerun elections.

The IGP argued that the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, set up by Wike, had no power to investigate the crimes committed during the rerun polls in Rivers State and prosecute the culprits.

Punch, February 3, 2017

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