The Nigeria Police Force on Thursday described the Senate’s declaration of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, as incompetent and unfit to hold public office, as laughable.
The police also said the Senate lacks power to invite the IGP, adding that the lawmakers had taken the matter personal.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of Legal Unit, David Igbodo, stated these when he appeared on a television programme on Thursday morning.
He said: “I don’t think the Senate of Nigeria has the constitutional power to declare the IGP unfit to hold the office. On what basis are they declaring him unfit to hold office? Did the IGP go to them for confirmation of appointment or what is it?
“What you call a face-off between both parties is not a face-off. The IGP was invited on the April 25 to appear on April 26. Unfortunately, the IGP was with the President in Bauchi and he delegated a DIG.
“The IGP has the power under the constitution and under the Police Act to delegate his line officers to represent him on official function. This is an official matter and not personal. The DIG was rejected by the Senate even though the brief they requested for was given to the DIG by the IGP to brief the National Assembly.
“They wrote another letter and he delegated another DIG because he was in Kaduna. He was to brief them on Senator Dino Melaye. We should all know that Senator Melaye does not enjoy immunity.
“The National Assembly insisted again that he must come in person. At this point, a constitutional issue had arisen. The IGP decided to go to court to know whether each time the National Assembly invites him; whether he must as a matter of law appear in person or he can exercise his power of delegation. So we are in court.
“We posed five questions and seven prayers for the court’s determination and until the court decides that, the National Assembly has no power to invite the IGP on that issue.”
Igbodo also said the IGP has appeared at the Senate over 10 times since his appointment in June 2016.
The NATION
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