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Tag: Ibrahim Idris

  • Saraki/IGP face-off: Senate leadership meets Buhari

    The leadership of the Senate on Tuesday met President Muhammadu Buhari behind closed doors over alleged plot by the Inspector -General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to frame the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, on a murder charge.

    The Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting that they came to confer with the President on how to smoothen the working relationship between the legislature and the executive.

    But former Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Adamu, told journalists they came  to meet the President because of the alarm raised by the Senate president on the plot to implicate him and Kwara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, by suspected hoodlums.

    Adamu said: “The Senate President made some comments to the effect that he received a call from his governor that some persons suspected to be cultists who are undergoing investigation in Ilorin would be transferred to Abuja and it is becoming a problem that is why the governor intimated him.

    “That is why it was decided that we should come as leaders in the Assembly to hear what is going on and if anything can be done about it.”

    Asked why policemen were not allowed to perform their duties, the lawmaker added: “That cannot stop us from coming to see the President on the matter and to hear from him if you really know what has been happening at the National Assembly.

    “That cannot stop us from coming to see the President on the matter and to hear from him if you really know what has been happening at the National Assembly.

    “If there is a harmonious working relationship between the executive and legislature and even the judiciary all these type of things will not come up and even if they do come, not in the way they are coming up now.

    “A small matter is often overblown and it becomes a problem for everybody. This is the result of some unnecessary utterances because things are not going as expected. So long as suspicion and accusations continue to exist within the minds of some people who ordinarily shouldn’t have them, these things will continue.”

    Also in the delegation were the – Senate Chief Whip, Olusola Adeyeye, Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, Danjuma Goje, Abiodun Olujinmi, and Sam Egwu.

  • Saraki vs IGP: Senate delegation meets Buhari at Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari is meeting with 10-man senate delegation raised to address the ongoing impasse between the Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Inspector-General of Police over a criminal case involving some suspected cultists.

    NAN reports that members of the senate delegation included former governors of Nasarawa (Abdullahi Adamu), Gombe (Danjuma Goje) and Akwa Ibom, Mr Godswill Akpabio.

    NAN observed that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate), Mr Ita Enang also accompanied the senators to the meeting with the president.

    It would be recalled that the Senate had on May 9 passed vote of no confidence on the IGP, describing him as “enemy of democracy’’ over his failure to honour its invitations twice.

    Read Also: Senate panel, Omo-Agege trade words over appearance at sitting

    Idris, however, asked the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations), Joseph Habila to represent at the senate.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki on Wednesday also accused the IGP of plotting to implicate him and Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara in a murder case involving some suspected cultists.

    The Senate on Thursday raised a 10-man panel to meet with President Buhari over the allegation leveled against the IGP by Saraki.

  • Breaking: Buhari, Senators meet in Aso Rock 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed doors with a delegation of the Senate at the National Assembly.

    The 10-man delegate was constituted by the Senate over allegation by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, of moves by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to frame him up.

    Read Also: Breaking: Buhari, Saraki, Dogara meet in Aso Rock

    They arrived the Presidential Villa around 1.p.m

    The relationship between the Senate and the Police has not been cordial in the past few weeks.

    IGP had refused to honour three invitations extended to him by the Senate.

    Frustrated by the behavior, the Senate had subsequently passed a vote of no confidence on the IGP, describing him as “enemy of democracy’’ and unfit to hold any public office anywhere in the world.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

     

    Details Later…

  • Buhari, IGP observe Jumaat prayer in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday observed his Jumaat prayer along with other Muslims faithful in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Among those in the mosque during the Jumaat prayer were the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris and Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai.

    When the IGP went to exchange pleasantries with the President at the end of the prayer, President Buhari asked him: “Are you back?”

    Read Also: Saraki to meet Buhari over ‘IGP’s plot to implicate him’

    Idris in recent weeks had not been in good term with the Senate as he failed to honour three invitations extended to him over increasing killings by herdsmen and harsh treatment against Senator Dino Melaye by the Police.

    The Senate had subsequently passed a vote of no confidence on the IGP, describing him as “enemy of democracy’’ and unfit to hold any public office anywhere in the world.

    The Senate President Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, accused the IGP of trying to implicate him and Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, in a criminal case involving some suspected cultists.

    Following the accusation, the Senate has raised a 10-man panel to meet with President Buhari over the allegation leveled against the IGP by Saraki.

  • ICYMI: IGP wants to frame me up – Saraki

    The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said on Wednesday the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has concluded arrangements to implicate him in the ongoing investigation and prosecution of suspected cultists in Kwara State.

    Saraki said it has become necessary for him to urgently bring the alleged plot by the IGP to attention of senators, Nigerians and the international community.

    The Senate President said the IGP is also plotting to frame up the state Governor, Abdulfatai Ahmed.

    The announcement threw the chamber into a state of shock and disbelief as deliberations in the chamber stopped momentarily.

    The lawmakers described the development as “a dangerous development” that must be halted in the interest of democracy in Nigeria.

    Before the announcement, the upper chamber held over 45 minutes closed session which Saraki said was meant to deliberate on the running of the Senate and the National Assembly in general.

    Saraki said: “My Distinguished colleagues, there is an issue which I need to bring to your attention very urgently.

    “Last night, my state Governor, Dr. Abdulfatai Ahmed, told me that information at his disposal revealed that a group of suspects who had been in police cells for several weeks for cultism and whose investigation had been concluded with prosecution about to commence under the state law based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the Ministry of Justice were ordered to be transferred to Abuja this morning.

    “According to the information available to the governor, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Idris Ibrahim, directed the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State to immediately transfer the men to the Force Headquarters. The plan, as the Governor was made to understand is that, under duress, the suspects would be made to alter the statements they already made in Ilorin. They will then be made to implicate the Kwara State Government and in particular, myself, in their new statement.

    “This plot is part of the strategy by the IGP to settle scores over the declaration by this honourable chamber that he is not qualified and competent to hold any public office, within and outside the country and that he is an enemy of Nigerian democracy based on his usual disrespectful conduct towards lawful authorities.

    “In my own view, this plot is an act of desperation, blackmail, intimidation, abuse of office and crude tactics aimed at turning our country into a police state where top officials cannot be made to obey the law, follow due process and subject themselves to constituted authorities.

    “I want to bring this dangerous development to the attention of all of you my colleagues, the entire country and the international community so that you can be aware of the level of impunity in our country and the danger it constitute to our democracy.”

     

     

  • FG destroys 5,870 recovered illegal arms in Zamfara

    The Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons in Gusau on Monday destroyed 5,870 illegal arms and ammunition recovered by the Zamfara Government.

    The exercise marked the launch of the pilot stage of the destruction of arms and weapons recovered from persons who illegally held them.

    The recovery in Zamfara was made from repentant bandits who surrendered their weapons to the state government Committee for Peace, Reconciliation and Disarmament, headed by the Deputy Governor, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala.

    The exercise which took place at Zamfara Trade Fair Complex in Gusau, was chaired by the Chairman of the Presidential Committee, Amb. Emmanuel Imohe.

    The event was attended by Zamfara Governor, Alhaji Abdul’aziz Yari and his deputy, Wakkala, representatives of international agencies such as the EU, ECOWAS and UNDP as well as security agencies and traditional rulers.

    In his remark, Imohe said the exercise was aimed at destroying a total of 5,870 arms and ammunition received under Zamfara state disarmament initiative.

    Read Also: Army kill 8 bandits in Zamfara

    “Apart from the destruction of illegal and recovered arms, one of the mandates of this presidential committee is also to improve livelihood of the people and communities that surrendered their weapons.

    “Zamfara is one of the seven states in the country selected by the Federal Government for a pilot programme.

    “This programme is also a flat form for raising awareness of dangers associated with the circulation of illegal weapons that have killed, injured and terrorised people all over the world,” he said.

    Imohe commended Zamfara for initiating the disarmament programme which resulted to the recovery of over 5,000 small arms, ammunition, grenades, automatic and semi-automatic weapons.

    “I am happy to be associated with this laudable efforts made by Zamfara State Government.

    “I consider this as one of great achievements recorded by this committee, I thank the state disarmament committee led by the state Deputy Governor, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, and all stakeholders who contributed to the success recorded.

    “You know, this committee was inaugurated in April 2013 by the Federal Government with the mandate to be the focal point in the efforts of the country to address the movement of illicit illegal arms and light weapons.

    “We are working with international organisations to conduct practical disarmament at border communities in the country and provide a support for repentant bandits,’’ he said.

    In his remark, Yari thanked the Federal Government for setting up the presidential committee and international organisations for their efforts for peace and stability in the state and country.

    Yari said the state had recorded many deaths, casualties and huge losses in economic activities as result of cattle rustling and banditry.

    He said such losses necessitated the setting up the Peace, Reconciliation and Disarmament Committee by the state government.

    “The Committee since inception has recorded great successes of recovering over 5,000 illegal arms and large number of repentant bandits across the state.

    “We are witnessing the destruction of these illegal weapons today, we are going to continue to give all the necessary support to Federal Government and all stakeholders as regard to improvement of security in the state and country at large.

    “We are going to provide authentic lists of repentant bandits and those who surrendered their arms and submit it to the Federal Government for assistance with the aim of changing their livelihood,” he said.

    The Zamfara Government in an effort to address security challenges in the state in 2016 set up the Peace, Reconciliation and Disarmaments Committee.

    Similarly, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, in March ordered the recovery of all illegal arms across the country to check the deteriorating security situation.

    NAN

     

  • EFCC secures 278 convictions in 16 months

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said over 278 convictions of corrupt officials have been secured by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) between 2017 and first quarter of 2018.

    The President made the disclosure in a message to the passing out parade of 314 cadets of the EFCC Detective Superintendent Course 7 for 2017/2018, held at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.

    Buhari, who was represented by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, said 189 convictions were secured in 2017 and 89, including that of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in the first quarter of 2018.

    He congratulated the cadets for successfully completing their 13 months training and admonished them to be courageous in dealing with corrupt officials.

    Buhari cautioned them to be upright, adding that “being officers of the EFCC does not confer immunity on you against arrest or prosecution as the only currency that can buy the career you seek in the EFCC is integrity, professionalism and resistance to corruption.”

    He said that they must, therefore, live above board, resist all temptations, be contented with their salaries and allowance, or be haunted down and prosecuted.

    The president also advised them to conduct investigations that are evidence laden and capable of gaining conviction in courts.

    Buhari commended the Acting chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu for the achievements recorded in the fight against corruption, adding that for the first time, the nation is witnessing the trial of judges, senior lawyers, serving and retired officers and former ministers.

    NAN reports that four cadets: T. E. Anene, T. M. Barigari, C. E. Opkara and H. A. Akigwa were recognized for exceptional performance during the course.

  • Senate’s declaration on IGP laughable – Police

    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.

     

  • Updated: Senate passes no confidence vote on IGP

     

    …Declares him ‘enemy of democracy’

     

    The Senate Wednesday passed a vote of no confidence on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris.

    Apart from adopting a no confidence vote on the police boss, the upper chamber also declared Idris “enemy of democracy” who is not “fit to hold public office within and outside Nigeria.”

    The resolution was sequel to the refusal of the IGP to personally appear before the upper chamber to brief lawmakers on the increasing spate of killings across the country and alleged inhuman treatment the police meted to Senator Dino Melaye.

    For three times the police boss was invited by the Senate for “security briefing” and for three times the IGP ignored the invitation.

    Wednesday’s non-appearance of the IGP for the Senate into emergency closed session to discussed what the upper chamber described as “an affront on it by the IGP.”

    After over 30 minutes behind the door session, the senators emerged to vent their anger on the IGP.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who announced resolutions adopted at the closed session said: “Distinguished colleagues, the Senate in a closed session deliberated on the non-appearance of the IGP to the Senate in plenary after a series of invitations.

    “The Senate noted that this amounted to a great disrespect to the institution and constituted authority.

    “The Senate also notes that his earlier refusal to appear before its investigative committee was overruled by a court of competent jurisdiction just in April of this year.

    “The Senate therefore views his persistent refusal (to appear before the Senate) as a great danger to our democracy.

    “Therefore, the Senate resolved to declare the IGP as an enemy of our democracy and not fit to hold any public office within and outside Nigeria.

    “The leadership of the Senate was also mandated to look into the matter for further necessary action.”

    The Senate had listed in its Order Paper for Wednesday “Security briefing: Briefing by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

    “The spate of killings across the country and the inhuman treatment of Distinguished Senator Dino Melaye.”

    The Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North) read the item “That the Senate do receive the Inspector General of Police to brief this Distinguished Senate on the spate of killings across the country and the inhuman treatment of Distinguished Senator Dino Melaye over a matter that is pending before a competent law court.”

    Saraki mandated the clerk, Nelson Ayewo, to go and usher in the IGP into the chamber.

    That was not to be as the clerk returned to the chamber minutes later without the IGP.

    Saraki announced to the obvious disappointment of the senators “I have just been informed that the Inspector-General of Police is not here or anybody in his team so I think we need to decide on the next line of action.”

    Before then, the Senate had suspended it Order 18 to allow the IGP into its chamber

    With announcement of the non-appearance of the IGP, subdued anger appeared to have descended on the chamber.

    Senators were observed in clusters in the chamber apparently to discuss “the disregard of the institution of the Senate” by the police boss.

    Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan’s report of his inability to reach the IGP did not help matter.

    Lawan said, “For the past two days we have tried to reach the Inspector General of Police to inform him that he should be here today in keeping with our resolution. We have done that with chairman of Police Affairs Committee.

    “Personally, I made attempts to call his line and I sent text messages that he should call me as soon as he was able to see my message.

    “Clearly, the IG is not here. I think this is very unusual and very unfortunate. I personally feel that public officers should do what is in the interest of the public and where any public officers cannot do what is in the interest of the public, then there is no need for such an officer to continue to occupy that kind of police.

    “This institution is now at a crossroad on this. I believe that a decision has to be taken on way forward. Even though we will always like our security agencies to come and brief us because of the current security situation in the country. But in a situation where there is consistent non-appearance by the IG, I don’t think it will make any further sense to continue to extend invitation until the Senate takes a different decision to make the situation better.”

    Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, lamented he described as “national embarrassment.”

    Bwacha said, “This is quite sad moment for Nigeria, not for the parliament but for our democracy that for the very first time the IG is disregard the institution of the Senate.

    “Let me share or inform the Senate, I had the privilege or the grace to chair the House Committee on Police Affairs in the fifth National Assembly and I cannot imagine in my wildest imagination that such a thing could happen to the country’s highest lawmaking body.

    “It is sad, it is inexcusable, unacceptable, it is condemnable and it calls for immediate action. We need to take a very serious action on the way forward.

    “I suggest Mr. President let us have a closed-session for a very serious consideration on this matter. This is a national disgrace.”

    On his part Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said, “Democracies die and it dies in two ways. It either dies abruptly or in bits and what is happening today in Nigeria is that democracy is dying in bits.

    “It dies when people abuse governmental powers and all that we have seen today with the conduct of the Chief Law Officer of the Federation is nothing but an abuse of power.

    “He has no respect for this institution and that is now a fact. There is actually no way we can dress it to say we should give him some more time.

    “We can say that what he is doing is anything but an abuse of this institution, the federation and himself even in the eyes of the international community.

    “This morning I watched someone who was a police officer in Britain and what he said was germane to what we are saying here.

    “He said if the Chief Law Officer cannot obey the law of the land how do you now say to other people who are miscreants should obey the law.

    “I also want to agree with some of our colleagues who have said that we should go into a close door session and agree whether we will accept this insult to the President of the Federation because he is an appointee of the President and if he disobeys the law he is doing it against the President.

    “I want to appeal to us to remember that if we do not deal with this abuse of power all of us are going to regret it because there is nothing to stop anybody else from doing what he likes in this country.”

    Senator Isah Hamman Missau, (Bauchi Central) recalled that “I made mention that there is problem with the leadership of the police.”

    Missau continued, “On official capacity, there is no any person here that is not bigger than the IG constitutionally. Anybody here can invite the IG officially, because by the Constitution, every senator is bigger than the office of the IG.

    “What the IG is doing is not against the Senate, it is against the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because he is the leader today of this country. If an appointee of the President will refuse to honour invitation of an institution, it is unfortunate.

    “I think it is left for this government to decide if they have an appointee that will rubbish the image of the country.

    “I think it is much unfortunate and we will have to do something, the image of the President, the image of the country and the image of our democratic environment that is the institution of the parliament is at stake. This is a big embarrassment to the country.”

    A competent source told our reporter that the Senate also resolved to write Nigeria’s international partners, foreign embassies and Inter Pol to intimate them about the attitude of the IGP.

    Read Also: Again, IGP fails to appear before Senate

     

  • Again, IGP fails to appear before Senate

    For the third time the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, failed to appear to brief the Senate on wild spread killings in the country and alleged ill-treatment of embattled Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye.

    It would be recalled that Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Monday reported the refusal by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to appear before the Senate.

    Read Also: Dino Melaye: Senate orders IGP to appear on Wednesday

    The Senate had recently invited the IGP twice over the arrest of Senator Dino Melaye but he failed to show up before the Senate in plenary.

    Saraki after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari recently had said that there was need to ensure IGP respect constituted authority in line with the provisions of the 1999.

    He said “Just talking about the issue of the police, we also raised the issue of the non-appearance of the IG at the Senate and felt that they must continue to ensure that he continues to apply obedience to the issue of constituted authority.”