The lingering crisis between the Senate and the Police authorities reached a crescendo last weekend, following what many have termed as mutual ambushing between the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
The Senate recently entered into a duel with the police boss, Idris, who declined its invitation over the arrest and molestation of Senator Dino Melaye. The development resulted in a call by the Senate on the Presidency to sack Idris as IGP.
However, Saraki belled the cart in the renewed hostility when he accused Idris of plotting to implicate him in murder cases, having made some cult members who were detained in police cells at Ilorin, Kwara State, to confess under duress that the Senate President was their sponsor.
Last night, a group of suspects that had been arrested in Kwara State for cultism and whose investigations had been completed, had been ordered to be transferred to Abuja this morning. The information…is for them to try and see how they will alter the statement that they already made in Ilorin and try to implicate…particularly, me
Alarmed, Saraki said he had met with President Muhammadu Buhari over the IGP’s alleged plans to implicate him.
Raising the alarm on the floor of the Senate, Saraki said, “My Distinguished colleagues, there is an issue I need to bring to your attention urgently. Last night, a group of suspects that had been arrested in Kwara State for cultism and whose investigations had been completed, and were about to undergo prosecution under state’s law, on the advice of the DPP and the Ministry of Justice; but all of a sudden, they were ordered to be transferred to Abuja this morning. The information reaching the Kwara State Governor is that, they had been directed by the IGP to bring them to Abuja.
“The information that the governor has is for them to try and see how they will alter the statement that they already made in Ilorin and try to implicate the State Government and particularly, me. As we speak now, these suspects are already here in Abuja.
“These acts are of desperation, blackmail and intimidation. All actions to undermine our democracy are a recipe for anarchy, because we are doing our work, tasking officials to obey the law, due process and subject themselves to constitutional authority.
“I think it is important that I bring these dangerous developments to your attention, and the attention of the entire country,” he said.
The Force…wishes to categorically state that, there is no iota of truth in the allegation…of a plot by the IGP to implicate the Kwara State Government and the Senate President in any criminal matter. Until investigation is concluded, any person or group that tries to interfere in the investigation process, by action or utterances, is committing an offence
Saraki explained that he was bringing the issue to the attention of his colleagues to let them know the gravity of the situation.
“I know the gravity of the issue and that is why I am bringing it to your attention and to continue to let our colleagues and the world know presently, the danger we are going with and the level of the rascality that is going on with some of these actions.
“I have brought it to your attention and we must continue to play our role in doing what we believe in the course of our duty. It is very unfortunate but that is the information I have as of now,” the President of the Senate said.
Meanwhile, in a swift reaction to debunk Saraki’s claim, the IGP, speaking through the police spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, said the transfer of the suspected criminals was not because of the Senate President.
He warned that Saraki’s alarm could affect the ongoing criminal investigation in the cases concerning the accused persons.
“The Force, therefore, wishes to categorically state that, there is no iota of truth in the allegation and false assertion by the Senate President of a plot against him by the IGP to implicate the Kwara State Government and the Senate President in any criminal matter,” the official said.
“Until investigation is concluded, any person or group that tries to interfere in the investigation process by action or utterances is committing an offence,” he added.
Moshood listed the suspects arrested and paraded in Ilorin before being moved to Abuja as follows: Abolaji Safti Ojulari of Kankatu area, Ilorin; Lanre Mohammed Soliu, a.k.a Askari of Ile Nda Compound, Ilorin; Azeez Moyaki of Moyaki Compound, Gambari Area, Ilorin, and Suleiman Babatunde also of Gambari Area, Ilorin.
Others are: Yusuf Habeeb of Kangile Village, Kulende, Ilorin, and Umar Yahaya of Kangile Village, Kulende, Ilorin.
“The suspects admitted and confessed before the press and the public to have killed eleven 11 innocent persons in Kwara State and other states of the country,” Moshood said.
Those allegedly killed by the “assassin gang”, according to the police spokesman, included: Bukola Ajikobi, killed on 18/01/2016 at Ajikobi area in Ilorin; Azeez Lawal, killed in February, 2018 at Oja Oba area of Ilorin; Lateef (surname unknown) killed February 2018 at Ode Alfa Nda area of Ilorin; Jamiu (surname unknown) killed in February 2018 at Idi Ape area, Ilorin.
Others of their alleged casualties were: Segun (surname unknown) killed in September, 2017 at Kankatu area of Ilorin; Wasiu (surname unknown) killed in September 29, 2016 at Shao Garage of Ilorin; Musiliu (surname unknown) killed in February, 2018 at Shao Area, Ilorin; Bayo Ajia, killed in January 18, 2018 at Taiwo Road, Ilorin; Lateef, killed in January 2016 at Baboko Area of Ilorin; Abbey, a student of Kwara Polytechnic, killed in April, 2017 at Niger Road, Ilorin, and Lanre (surname unknown) killed on August 23, 2015 at Isale Aluko Area of Ilorin.
Moshood added that there was nothing particularly curious or special about the transfer, saying suspects arrested over the mayhem and killings of innocent people in Ile-Ife, Osun State and those arrested in the Southern Kaduna crisis and Zaki-biam killings in Benue State were all transferred to the Force Headquarters, Abuja for further investigation before they were arraigned in
court.
Interestingly, however, while the hostilities were raging last weekend, the IGP was caught in the trap of many social critics who demurred over his stammering, stuttering and sheer faltering, while delivering a public speech. The incident, said to have taken place in Kano, dominated the social media at the weekend. Yet, this is outside the fact that the chief cop’s battle with Saraki is
in progress.
