Piqued by the action of officers and men of the Nigeria Police who invaded the venue of the New Peoples Democratic Party caucus meeting held at the Kano State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja at the weekend, the House of Representatives on Tuesday summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to appear before it.
The lawmakers at plenary, presided over by Deputy Speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, condemned in strong terms the action of a detachment of policemen, led by a Chief Superintendent of Police, who said he was acting “on orders from above”.
Consequently, the House adopted a motion summoning Abubakar to appear before the House Committee on Police Affairs to explain his action.
Idris Muhammed Sani Kutigi, had in a motion co-sponsored by 61 others under matters of urgent national importance, titled: “Impunity and disregard to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) by the Nigeria Police Force,” condemned the action of the police.
According to Kutigi, the invasion violated the provisions of Sections 40 and 308 (1) (a) and (3) of the constitution, noting that the meeting was convened to fashion out a lasting solution to the lingering crisis in the PDP.
Kutigi decried “continued impunity and disregard for the constituted authority by men and officers of the Nigeria police”, adding: “The police have in recent times disrupted several meetings of these governors by ceiling (sic) the meeting venues.”
He also lamented that “a police officer of the rank of 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.
He said: “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.”
