IGP Idris and Senate President Bukola Saraki
The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has filed a suit
against the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and the Senate
challenging his summon, according to a report by Daily Sun.
In a suit marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/ 457/2018, the police boss is seeking
an injunctive order of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court
restraining the Senate and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, their
assigns, agents or any committees from insisting that he must appear
before the upper legislative chamber in person, to the exclusion of any
of his subordinate officers.
However, the legal team to the Senate President, in a
counter-affidavit, accused the IGP of using the court to avoid honouring
the invitation.
On why he could not honour the Senate’s invitation in person, the
IGP said he had been directed by the President and Commander-in-Chief of
the Armed Forces to be among the presidential entourage embarking on a
two-day official trip to Bauchi State and, therefore, on the said April
26, 2018, he was in Bauchi State on the presidential directive.
“That as a result of the above development, he then directed
and delegated the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Operations, an
Assistant Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police,
Kogi State, who had adequate knowledge of the two subject matters, which
the Senate required briefing, to appear before the Senate on April 26,
2018 on his behalf,” the suit explained.
However, the plaintiff told the court that the Senate refused the appearance of the aforesaid officers.
Besides, Idris, in the suit filed by his counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon,
SAN, urged the court to declare that the letters inviting him by the
Senate dated April 25, 2018, and April 26, 2018, relating to pending
criminal proceedings against Senator Dino Melaye in court of law was
beyond its powers under Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution and same is
contrary to the Senate Standing Order, 2015 and the provision of Section
6(6) (b) of the 1999 Cconstitution, and therefore null, void and of no
effect.
The IGP said by the said letter clearly showed that the Senate was
aware that Melaye was facing criminal charges in court and that he was
not answerable to the Senate.