The Nation Newspaper

Tag: IG

  • Court faults IG for ignoring Senate’s invitation

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has faulted the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, for refusing to honour the Senate’s invitation on the trial of Senator Dino Melaye.

    Justice John Tsoho yesterday said Idris’ excuse was not tenable, and that the two suits he filed in relation to the invitation amounted to an abuse of court processes.

    The IG filed the suits earlier in the year to challenge the Senate’s insistence that he must honour its invitation in person, and its subsequent declaration that he was not fit to occupy public office.

    The Senate had, by an April 25 letter, invited the IG following alleged inhuman treatment of Melaye, and the killings in Benue, Plateau, Kwara states, and others.

    Idris, who was expected to appear before the Senate the following day, sent the deputy inspector general of Police (Operations) and commissioner of Police, Kogi State, to represent him.

    The Senate refused to grant the men audience, and insisted Idris must appear in person.

    The lawmakers rescheduled the meeting for May 2 and again directed that the IG honours its invitation in person.

    But the IG filed the first suit on April 30, through his lawyer, Alex Izinyon (SAN), contending, among others, that he was not required under any known law to honour every invitation in person.

    He argued that by the Constitution and Police Act, he can delegate responsibilities, and direct subordinates to represent him, and his choice of the DIG (Operations) and Kogi State Police commissioner was because they were conversant with the issues.

    Justice Tsoho upheld the argument by the defendants – the Senate and its president – to the effect that the IG’s suits were intended to hinder the Senate from performing its  responsibilities.

    His judgment was on one of both suits. He declined to determine the second suit on the grounds that having rendered his opinion on one, he would prefer another judge hears and determine the second.

    He returned the file to the chief judge for reassignment.

    The judge said although the IG could be excused for not honouring the first invitation because he accompanied President Muhammadu Buhari on an official trip, there was no justification for not honouring the second invitation.

    Justice Tsoho noted that the IG, having had knowledge of the Senate’s invitation, his excuse that he could not attend the second invitation because he was on an official trip to Birnin Gwari with the general officer commanding, was “not tenable”.

    The judge said: “I do not see any harm that would have been caused if the plaintiff honoured the defendants’ invitation. I uphold the defendants’ argument that the plaintiff’s suit is intended to prevent the exercise of the Senate’s legitimate and constitutional responsibility, and that it constitutes an abuse of court process.”

  • Group threatens IG, PSC over special promotion

    PLANS by the Police Service Commission (PSC) to reverse the special promotion of police officers, who were promoted for “gallantry and superlative performances” between 2016 and this year, is running into more trouble.

    A non-governmental organisation, the Initiative Against Human Rights Abuse and Torture (IAHRAT), is threatening Inspector-General Ibrahim Idris and the Police Service Commission (PSC) with contempt of court over the matter.

    Idris has formally written to the PSC, arguing against implementation of the plan.

    IAHRAT’s lawyer Mr. Maxwell Okpara told The Nation that any attempt to take whatever step against those given special promotions might lead to contempt of court against the PSC Chairman and the IG.

    “The matter is before Honourable Justice A.O. Adeniyi at FCT High Court. We filed the action for enforcement of fundamental human rights because there has always been special promotion in the history of the Police and it is usually given to those who have distinguished themselves, including the likes of Chioma Ajunwa, who won international laurels for Nigeria and many who contributed gallantly in the nation’s fight against Boko Haram.

    “It has been given over the years and nobody complained. But now, some people say they want to cancel special promotions and demote some beneficiaries. To reverse such promotions, if you are not starting from the beginning of the history of the police force, you should be starting from 1999 when the current democratic dispensation began; look at all those who got special promotions and demote them.

    “Why just pick some recent promotions and start thinking of demoting them? That is why we are suing against discrimination because if you really want to reverse the promotions, you should extend it to all those who have been given special promotions from 1999 till date.

    “But when you want to begin picking people because their special promotion came during President Buhari’s tenure or because of IG Idris, without applying same to those promoted under ex-IGs Onovo, MD Mohammed, Suleiman Abba or Arase, why contemplate discriminatory reversal that’ll affect only those promoted under IG Idris?

  • Not so fast, IG

    NOT a few believed it when the news broke on September 4 that policemen stormed the home of Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark in search of arms and ammunition. The policemen led by an Assistant Superintendent (ASP) were said to be acting on a tip-off that the former federal commissioner of information was stockpiling arms in his home. The information turned out to be false.

    The informant, Ismail Yakubu, later said he got the information from a taxi driver, which is an euphemism for gossip in beer parlours and barber shops. This kind of talks is common in viewing centres, commercial buses, particularly molue and danfo, bars, saloons and boutiques. These places are always buzzing with all sorts of information, real and untrue. You do not go away from there holding on to what you have heard as the gospel truth. But you go away with your head tinkling with the latest gist in town.

    Yakubu, the informant, was only playing his part as a citizen by passing the information to the police. As he said when he was paraded, his duty is to pass information to the police which he discharged conscientiously. For effect, he added that it is not his duty to ascertain the veracity of the information. Picking up information from buses and related places did not start today. Even in advanced countries, these places are veritable sources of information.

    A good reporter gets vital information from those places, at times, and makes headline news with it. But like every damn good reporter knows, you must filter the information before use. The policemen who rushed to Clark’s home did not do this and they ran into trouble. Which brings us to the issue of the training of these men comprising the ASP and three inspectors. That is if we believe they were acting on their own. It beats me hollow that the officers could rush into Clark’s home just like that based on Yabubu’s information. A recruit would not act like that.

    If an ASP and three inspectors cannot show restraint in the face of sensitive information, I wonder the kind of policemen we are breeding. Whistle-blowing is fast becoming part of our culture because of the monetary gain attached to it under the anti-corruption crusade. Since there is something in it for the whistle-blower, people are quick these days to rush to the authorities with information as soon as they suspect anything. Since the authorities have called for whistle-blowing in order to sanitise the society, they should be prepared to go the extra mile in verifying information before acting on it so that the innocent do not suffer unjustly.

    If it were to be another person and not Clark that was involved in this case, the outcome would certainly have been different. The police would have found one way or the other to justify their action rather than apologise as the Inspector-General (IG), Ibrahim Idris, did to Clark. Also, he dismissed the three inspectors and suspended the ASP whose fate now lies in the hands of the Police Service Commission (PSC). Despite the steps the IG took, there is more to this issue than meets the eye.

    People find it hard to believe that the ASP and the inspectors went to Clark’s home on such a mission without the knowledge of their superiors. Honestly, it is difficult to believe that they had no authority from high up before embarking on what turned out to be a futile exercise. The IG may have acted swiftly to save the image of the police, but there is something still  being shrouded in secrecy in all of this. Mr IG, who authorised the raid on Chief Edwin Clark’s home on Tuesday, September 4? Until this question is answered, whatever the IG has done so far will amount to begging the issue.

    If the IG wants to be honest with himself, he should fish out the top officer, who gave the ASP and the inspectors the authority to go on that mission. It is good that he has apologised to Clark, but the apology will amount to nothing if those poor officers are made the fall guy for carrying out superior orders. A mistake has been made; we should not compound it by adding injustice to it. It will be the height of injustice to sacrifice these officers just like that  in order to assuage Clark, who has already accepted the IG’s apology.

    Clark has since petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, demanding a probe into the invasion. Such a probe is necessary so that we will know those who did what and not just make those officers scapegoats. To those officers, they were carrying out orders, which to all intents and purposes, they thought were lawful. The order of a superior officer is like a court order which must be obeyed even if perverse. A subordinate can only refuse to carry out such orders at his peril. That being the case, there is no way a junior officer can disobey his superior.

    Going by Clark’s narrative, if the officers were not acting on ‘order from above’ (aaah, these words again!),  they would have had a rethink, especially after an ambassador was said to have called an assistant inspector-general of police (AIG). Who is an ASP or an inspector when an AIG is talking? For the ASP and the inspectors to have disobeyed the AIG shows that someone higher than the AIG knew about the invasion. Why is that officer being shielded and the boys he sent on errand being punished? If  very senior officers know how to issue unlawful orders, they should also know how to bear the consequences of their action when something goes wrong.

    It does not speak well of that officer that he has abandoned his boys to their fate. The police is an organisation with command and structure. Everything is done in line with laid down rules. An ASP is a superior officer but there is a limit to his powers. An ASP cannot authorise that raid on Clark’s house. What we deserve in this case is a public probe, not an in-house investigation where things will be swept under the carpet in order not to truncate the career of some top officers who have few years left to retire. But what of  the boys whose career has been truncated?

  • IG sacks three over Clark’s home raid

    Three Inspectors have been sacked by the Police authorities for raiding the Abuja home of elder statesman Edwin Clark.

    An Assistant Superintendent of Police has been suspended for his role in Tuesday’s action. The informant has been arraigned for giving false information.

    Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris who denied authorising the raid, has apoligised to the 91-year-old Ijaw leader.

    Police spokesman Jimoh Moshood, who announced the disciplinary measures in a statement yesterday said:

    “The Inspector General of Police has approved the dismissal from the service of the Nigeria Police Force three Inspectors, namely AP/No. 18858 Inspr Godwin Musa, AP/No. 225812 Inspr Sada Abubakar and AP/No. 225828 Inspr Yabo Paul, and the immediate interdiction of AP. No 158460 ASP David Dominic who were involved in the unauthorised, illegal and unprofessional misconduct in the search of the residence of elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark in Asokoro, Abuja on 4th September, 2018.

    “AP. No. 158460 ASP David Dominic was queried and being investigated for discreditable conduct, negligence of duty and an act unbecoming of a police officer which constitute serious misconduct and if not checked can be inimical to the image of the Nigeria Police Force and violation of fundamental human rights of the elder statesman as provided for in the 1999 Nigeria Constitution as amended.

    “The gravity of the offences against the officer is serious in nature and dismissal from service is imminent.

    “Consequently, the Inspector General of Police approved that AP. No 158460 ASP David Dominic be on interdiction from Service pending the determination of his case by the Police Service Commission.

    “The IGP also approved and upheld the dismissal from service of  AP/No. 18858 Inspr Godwin Musa, AP/No. 225812 Inspr Sada Abubakar and AP/No. 225828 Inspr Yabo Paul, after the trio were tried under Oath in Orderly Room Trial for discreditable conduct, illegal duty, disobedience to lawful order and other misconduct contrary to the rule of law.

    “The suspect (Informant) Ismail Yakubu from Waru Village, Apo District, Abuja, has been charged to Upper Area Court Mpape, Abuja for giving false information and telling falsehood that misled police action.”

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman Adams Oshiomhole yesterday called for the prosecution of the policemen.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Simon Egbuebulem, the APC Chairman said that anything short of prosecution of the policemen would be unacceptable.

    He said: “I am shocked to learn about the raid on the Abuja residence of our elder statesman and highly respected South South leader, Chief Edwin Clark by the police, last Tuesday.

    “I am even more baffled and embarrassed that no reason was given for that invasion and from the comments by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotum-Idris, the raid was not authorised by the police hierarchy.

    “Therefore, the IGP has a responsibility not only to detain the policemen involved but to also ensure they are diligently prosecuted in court. Anything short of that will be unacceptable.

    “The police hierarchy must come clean on this matter, and handle the entire issue transparently, including disclosing the names of the officers involved in this unwarranted attack on the person of Chief Clark.

    “I share the pain and embarrassment Chief Clark was subjected to by the said police officers, particularly as no reason has been given for the action. This is one matter the IGP must never sweep under the carpet.

    “It should be further reiterated that no Nigerian would be allowed to be subjected to such recklessness or impunity on the part of those charged to protect them.”

  • Ahmed’s aide sues police IG

    Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed’s Personal Assistant on Political Matters, Olalekan Alabi, has sued the Inspector General of Police (IG) Ibrahim Idris for disobeying a cout order to release him.

    Alabi has been in police custody in Abuja since May 30, following his arrest for alleged links with Offa banks’ robbery suspects.

    His lawyer Adebayo Adelodun (SAN) filed an application at a Kwara State High Court, seeking to begin committal proceedings against Idris for contempt.

    Alabi approached the court to effect the service of Form 49, which is a notice of committal to prison on the IG for disobeying the order to release him from custody.

    The IG will be summoned to show cause why he should not be jailed for disobeying a court order.

    On August 1, Kwara State High Court granted him an interim bail after declaring his continued detention illegal and unjustifiable.

    While admitting him to an interim bail at N20 million, with two sureties in like sum, Justice A.I. Yusuf held that the police failed to justify why they have kept the governor’s aide for over two months.

    But the police have refused to release Alabi despite perfecting his bail conditions.

    This development necessitated the court to issue Form 49 to the IG, which is an initiation of contempt proceeding.

    The form reads: “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in the order of the High Court of Justice of Kwara State, delivered on the August 1, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”

    Idris has, however, failed to respond to the notice, prompting Alabi to approach the court to serve him Form 49.

  • Offa robbery probe: Saraki not exonerated, say AGF, IG

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has not been cleared of his alleged complicity in the Offa robbery, it was learnt yesterday.

    The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) said there was nowhere Saraki was cleared in the opinion of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) rendered on the interim report of investigation submitted for the DPP’s advice by the police, as being claimed.

    They stated that instead, the DPP, having analysed the interim report of investigation by the police, suggested areas of further investigation as regard claims by some of those being held over the crime, particularly as it relates to the source of the weapons used and where the operation was plotted.

    The AGF, the IGP and the NPF noted that pursuant to the advice by the DPP, further investigation has been conducted, following which a more detailed investigation report has since been submitted to the DPP for his further opinion.

    They said it was premature for anyone to claim that Saraki had been exonerated as “investigation is still ongoing on the case”. They denied the claim that the decision to question Saraki over the case was political and intended to blackmail him and dent his reputation.

    They said the information linking Saraki to the case was provided by some individuals arrested in relation to the case, who claim to be political thugs to the Senate President.

    The AGF, the NPF and the IGP spoke in their separate counter affidavits filed in response to a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by some 10 individuals, who claimed to be acting for the Senate President. The suit is pending before Justice M. A. Nasir of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jabi, Abuja.

    The applicants – Anthony Onukaogu, Lawrence Umudu, Bamidele Ojo, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, Ogechi Duruaku, Veronica Onoja, Chidiebere Achebe, Chika Onyiorah, Chigozie Eburuo and Patrick Uzim – claimed in the suit, that the decision by the police to question Saraki in relation to the robbery was instigated by his political enemies; intended to blackmail him and dent the Senate President’s reputation.

    Besides filing separate counter-affidavits, the respondents – AGF, NPF and the IGP – also filed motions and notices of objection, challenging the applicants’ locus standi, the court’s jurisdiction and the propriety of court’s interim order of injunction, made on August 8 by Justice Nasir, restraining the respondents from further inviting Saraki in relation to investigation on the robbery case.

    On Thursday, Tijani Ganzali (for the AGF), O. M. Atoyebi (for the NPF) and S. Jibrin (for the IGP) informed the court about the various processes they filed on behalf of their clients, which they were yet to serve on the applicants.

    The applicants’ lawyer, E. C. Nweke, prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him respond to the respondents’ processes, which he said were to be served on him in court on Thursday. Justice Nasir, upon agreement by parties, adjourned the matter till September 3 for hearing.

    The AGF said in his counter affidavit that contrary to the applicants’ claim in paragraph 23 of their affidavit, the police interim investigation report on the Offa, Kwara State robbery and other alleged crimes, “as it affects Senator Bukola Saraki, revealed that further thorough investigation be made so as to ascertain whether the planning and the execution of the robbery attack of 5th April 2018 at Offa, Kwara State was carried out at his instance, knowledge or approval.

    “Or whether the weapons used for the robbery attack were supplied by him (Saraki); and other possible areas which will aid the establishment of prima facie case against whoever is involved. The interim investigation report is not a conclusive investigation and does not put an end to the investigation of Senator Bukola Saraki, hence the investigation to ascertain direct or any possible link of Senator Bukola Saraki and the robbery incident is still on going.

    “That the Interim Investigation Report does not in any way exonerate Senator Bukola Saraki from any further investigation. As a matter of fact, Senator Bukola Saraki has no immunity whatsoever from investigation, arrest, detention or prosecution where reasonable suspicion is established.

    “Contrary to paragraphs 8, 14, 17 and 21 of the applicants’ affidavit, neither the position of Senator Bukola Saraki as the Nigerian Senate President nor his political portfolio is a barrier to any investigation by the 2nd and 3rd respondents (NPF and IGP) if he is suspected of having committed any crime.

    “There was never a time Senator Bukola Saraki, in the cause of his investigation in relation to the Offa, Kwara State robbery incident, that he was detained in breach of the provisions of the law. All invitations made by the 2nd and 3rd respondents to Senator Bukola Saraki, in respect of the Offa robbery are in an effort to ascertain the veracity of the allegation made against him in accordance with the spirit of right to fair hearing.

    “The 2nd and 3rd respondents have the statutory duty to investigate Senator Bukola Saraki or any other person linked to the alleged commission of any offence. The investigation and/or invitation of the Senator Bukola Saraki is not in any way malicious or aimed at tarnishing his image,” the AGF said.

    The IGP, in his counter affidavit, gave an insight into what informed police’s decision to question Saraki over the robbery incident and why it was wrong for the Senate President to rush to conclusion based on the interim report submitted to the DPP by the police.

    The IGP stated that following the April 5, 2018 case of multiple bank robberies involving six banks, attack on police station and murder of thirty-one (31) individuals, including nine (9) police officers in Offa, the police arrested some suspects, including Ayoade Akinnibosun, lbikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Ibrahim, Salawudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran, and recorded their statements in which they allegedly admitted involvement in the crime.

    The IGP added: “One of the suspects, Ayoade Akinnibosun, confessed to being a political thug to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed. The said Ayoade Akinibosun equally stated that some of the arms and ammunition used in the armed robbery operation were procured by the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed.

    “Based on the statement of Ayoade Akinnibosun, the Senate President was invited to make statement to respond to the allegations and he eventually made a statement to the Police. After initial investigation, the police forwarded the case file to the Attorney-General of the Federation and the DPP rendered a legal advice in which it was concluded that some of the suspects have cases of armed robbery and unlawful possession of Firearms to answer.

    “As regards the Senate President, the DPP’s legal advice states in paragraph f as follows ‘for the Senate President—this office is unable to establish from the evidence in the interim report a nexus between the alleged offence and the suspects, Hence, it is our advice that further and thorough investigation in this regard be carried out.’

    “The DPP’s advice, in same paragraph f, states that the areas to be covered include, but not limited to the following: (i) establish whether the planning and the execution of the robbery attack of 5th of April 2018 at Offa were carried out at their instance, knowledge and approval, (ii) whether the weapons used for the robbery attack aforementioned were supplied by either the Senate President, Bukola Saraki or the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatai Ahmed Maigida (iii) any other area or areas that may assist in establishing a prima facie case of aiding and abetting crime or accessory after the fact.

    “Based on the advice of the DPP and after more investigations, the Senate President was invited again to make statement and he made another statement and the case file was duplicated and forwarded back to the Attorney-General of the Federation for advice. As soon as the advice of the DPP is out, anybody indicted will be charged to court as required by law,” the IGP said.

  • Saraki asks court to restrain AGF, IG, others from ‘unlawfully’ removing him

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to among others, restrain the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Department of State Services (DSS) from supporting any effort to sack Senate President Bukola Saraki through means other than that provided for under Section 50(2)(c ) of the Constitution.

    The request from part of the reliefs in a suit filed on Monday by Senators Rafiu Adebayo (PDP, Kwara South) and Isa Misau (PDP, Bauchi Central) through a team of lawyers, including former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Kanu Agabi (SAN) and Mahmud Magaji (SAN).

    The plaintiffs stated that, going by recent occurrences and utterances by some leaders of a faction of All Progressives Congress (APC), from which they had defected, they were convinced of plots to force Saraki off the Senate President’s seat by means other than that provided in Section 50(2)(c ) of the Constitution.

    Section 50(2) provides: “The President or Deputy President of the Senate or the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall vacate his office…. (c) if he is removed from office by a resolution of the Senate or of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of the members of that House.”

    Listed as defendants in the suit are: The Senate, the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawal (Senate Leader), Senator Bala Ibn Nallah (Deputy Senate Leader), Senator Emma Buacha (Deputy Minority Leader), Clerk of the Senate, Deputy Clerk of the Senate, Attorney General of the Federation, Inspector General of Police and Department of  State Services (DSS).

    Misau stated, in a supporting affidavit, that there was evidence of threat of constitutional breach which require the court to intervene by restraining the defendants from resorting to unconstitutional means to actualise their alleged threat and plot to unseat the Senate President following his defection to the PDP.

    The plaintiffs are praying the court for, among others, an order restraining the 9th, 10th and 11th defendants, either by themselves, agents, servants, privies by whatsoever name so called from enforcing any act of the 1st,  3rd to 8th defendants purporting to have removed the 2nd defendant from office without such act being in compliance with the provisions of Sections 50(2) of the Constitution of the Fedora! Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

    * A declaration that the President of the Senate cannot be said to have vacated his office by virtue of Section 50(2)(c) of the Constitution when he has not been removed from office by the votes of not less than two-third majority of the members of the Senate.

    No date has been set for the hearing of the suit.

  • ‘IG must arrest, present INEC boss in court’

    Inspector-General of Police (IG) Ibrahim Idris must arrest and present Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu in court, as directed by a federal court, human rights activist Osuagwu Ugochukwu has said.

    An Abuja Federal High Court judge, Justice Stephen Pam, last week issued a bench warrant on the INEC boss, ordering the Inspector- General of Police to arrest and present him in court tomorrow.

    The INEC boss had earlier refused to appear before the court thrice, despite being summoned by the judge, which prompted the bench warrant.

    Although INEC said it had appealed the court order, Ugochukwu said Yakubu ought to have appeared before the judge, describing his action as disrespectful.

    Ugochukwu, who expressed worries about INEC boss’ handling of the situation, said the trend, if not checked, could lead to anarchy.

    He urged the IG to do the needful, to save the judiciary and the country from descending into anarchy.

    Briefing reporters on the issue at the weekend in Abuja, the activist stressed that the INEC chairman could not be above the law.

    He said the excuses tendered by Yakubu were untenable and alien to the criminal justice act, which prohibited application for a stay of proceeding.

    Ugochukwu said contempt proceedings were criminal in nature, which must be obeyed.

    Said he: “You must be aware that contempt proceedings are criminal in nature. It is not a civil proceeding, therefore, one of the valid orders of a court in a contempt proceeding is that you appear. It must be obeyed

  • Police not involved, says IG

    Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has said the Police was not involved in the blockade of the National Assembly by security operatives

    Idris spoke with State House correspondents after a meeting with the acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said the blockage of the NASS complex was a surprise to him, saying the police would soon issue a statement on the incident.

    He said “Obviously, like I said, I have not got a detailed brief on that. So, when I get the brief, in fact we are going to issue a (press) release.

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo had on Tuesday sacked the Director General, Department of State Service, Lawal Daura with immediate effect, over the invasion of the premises of the National Assembly on Tuesday.

    Osinbajo condemned the unauthorized takeover of the National Assembly complex, describing it as “a gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and all acceptable notions of law and order.’’

    He maintained that the “unlawful act which was done without the knowledge of the Presidency is condemnable and completely unacceptable.’’

    Idris returned to the Villa around 6.35p.m for another round f meeting with the acting president.

    A statement by Police spokesman Jimoh Moshood

    Said: “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to categorically state that its personnel was not involved in any way whatsoever in the blockade of the National Assembly in the early hours of today, 7th August, 2018.

    “The Force was not informed and has no pre-knowledge of the blockade.

    “The Nigeria Police Force will continue to ensure that the rule of law prevails, sustain unflinching respect, support and protection of all constituent authorities and democratic institutions in the Country, while maintaining law and order, protection of lives and property nationwide.”

  • Acting DSS DG Seiyefa, Magu, Kyari, IG meet Osinbajo

    Matthew Seiyefa, the most senior director at the DSS took over yesterday following Daura’s sack.

    He held a meeting with Acting President, arriving in an official SUV at 4pm.

    He clutched a file and was received at the entrance by the ADC to the Acting President.

    The Bayelsa-born acting DG came out of the Acting President’s office around 5p.m. he left the Villa in another car and was shielded from waiting reporters.

    Seiyefa, who has spent 34 years in service, was the Director, Institute of Security Studies in Abuja. He served in different capacities, including the State Director in Osun, Akwa Ibom, and Lagos States.

    Seiyefa is also a Member of the National Institute.

    Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu also arrived at the Villa. He walked briskly into Osinbajo’s office but was seen rushing out at about 4:40pm.

    Osinbajo also met with Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari.

    The meeting was held at the Acting President’s office when Kyari entered his office around 5.22p.m