Search of Clark’s home: IGP denies knowledge, orders arrest of policemen

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has denied being in the know of the invasion of the home of a former Federal Commissioner for Information and South South leader, Chief Edwin Clark.
Policemen had on Tuesday afternoon stormed the home of the elder statesman in Abuja, claiming they were in search of arms and ammunition.
The policemen, who turned the house inside out in a one hour operation between 1:30pm and 2:30pm, found nothing incriminating at the end of the search.
However in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police Jimoh Moshood, Idris said he was not in the know about the operation.
He therefore ordered the arrest of four policemen believed to have participated in the operation and the provider of the false information that led to the search.
According to a second statement by Moshood on the development, the informant will be paraded on Wednesday (today)
The statement by Moshood said in part: “The Force wishes to categorically state that, the Inspector General of Police is not aware and did not order the raid of the residence of the Elder Statesman, Chief Edwin Clark as claimed by the writer of the story.
“Consequently, the Inspector General of Police has directed the detention and investigation of the Four (4) Police personnel and the informant involved. The outcome of the investigation will definitely be made public.
“Notwithstanding, the facts that on daily basis the Nigeria Police Force across the Country receives information from members of the public which were promptly used to prevent and detect crimes and Criminalities, the Force will not condone misconduct by any of its personnel that can run contrary to the rule of law.”
In a follow up, Idris also sent the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations), Joshua Habila, to apologise to Clark on the development.
Moshood said of the visit in his second statement on the incident in the early hours of Wednesday: “The delegation was received by Chief Edwin Clark and the apology was accepted by him.”
“Furthermore, the Inspector General of Police has directed that while the Four (4) Police Personnel are in Detention and being investigated and tried within the Force Disciplinary Procedures before appropriate punishments are meted out to them, the IGP has directed the immediate parade of the informant(Suspect) on Wednesday 5th September, 2018 in the presence of the press and the public, before his prompt arraignment and prosecution in Court.”