Unic Press UK: The Senate, the upper chamber of Nigeria’s National Assembly, has threatened to issue an arrest warrant against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris for failing to appear before an ad hoc committee of the Senate.
The threat of arrest was served by Francis Alimikhena, the chairman of an ad hoc committee, after the IGP failed to appear as summoned to answer allegations made against him by Senator Isah Misau (APC – Bauchi Central). The allegations relate to abuse of office, viz. purchasing two vehicles for the wife of Nigerian President, and misusing ₦120 billion, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
Alimikhena (APC – Edo North), who doubles as the Deputy Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, said that the IGP did not appear before the Senate committee on 16th October 2017, despite being duly summoned.
Reacting to the position of the legal counsel of the IGP, Alex Iziyon, who argued that it would amount to sub judice should the IGP appear before a Senate ad hoc committee over a matter that was pending before a court of law, the chairman of the committee, Alimikhena, said:
“We cannot be stopped. No court can stop us from carrying out our duties. There is separation of powers. No court can stop us. The separation of powers guaranteed by law, made it explicit that the Senate cannot be prevented in carrying out its constitutional duties by any other arm of government. If the IGP fails to appear on Nov. 7, the committee would invoke Section 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to compel him to appear.”
