SAN FRANCISCO, November 05, (THEWILL) – The House of Representatives Tuesday condemned the action of men and officers of the Nigeria Police under the command of a divisional police officer (DPO) for allegedly invading a meeting of the G-7 governors at the Kano State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.
Subsequently, the House summoned the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, to appear before its Committee on Police Affairs and offer insight into the circumstances leading to the invasion of the Governor’s Lodge.
The decision was taken following the approval of a motion titled ‘impunity and disregard to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) by the Nigeria Police Force” sponsored by Hon. Idris Muhammed Sani Kutigi (PDP, Niger) and 61 other members.
Leading debate on the motion, Kutigi, who raised the motion under matters of urgent national importance, recalled that on Sunday, November 3, while the G-7 and members of the National Assembly were holding a meeting at the Kano Governors Lodge in Asokoro, the DPO in charge of Asokoro division stormed the lodge midway into the “meeting with instructions from the Villa to disperse or arrest the governors if they refuse to stop meeting.”
He noted that the action violated the provisions of sections 40 and 308 (1) (a) and (3) of the constitution acknowledging that the meeting was convened to fashion out a lasting solution to the lingering crisis in the PDP.
The lawmaker expressed concern at the “continued impunity and disregard for the constituted authority by men and officers of the Nigeria Police,” adding that “the police have in recent times disrupted several meetings of these governors by sealing the meeting venues.”
Kutigi expressed shock “that a police officer of the rank of chief superintendent of police (CSP) boldly attempted to arrest and disrupt the meeting of the G-7 governors in disregard to their constitutional immunity in section 308 of the 1999 constitution.”
According to him, “if the rights and privileges of these governors and members of the National Assembly can be so threatened, then an ordinary man in Nigeria has no hope and confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.”
The House presided over by the deputy speaker; Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, unanimously adopted the motion without debate.
Written By Saint Mugaga, Abuja
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