ABUJA – Senate of the Federal Republic has declared Mr. Ibrahim Idris, Inspector General of Police unfit to hold public office at home and abroad.
The senators also mandated leadership of the Senate to study the case and make necessary recommendations for further necessary action.
The Senate declarations were fall outs of about one hour closed doors session they held yesterday, to deliberate on the IGP’s refusal to honour their invitation the 4th time.
“Distinguished colleagues, the Senate in a closed session deliberated on the non-appearance of the IGP to the Senate in plenary after a series of invitations.

The Senate noted that this amounted to a great disrespect to the institution and constituted authority.
The Senate also notes that his earlier refusal to appear before its investigative committee was overruled by a court of competent jurisdiction just in April of this year.
The Senate therefore views his persistent refusal as a great danger to our democracy.
Therefore, the Senate resolved to declare the IGP as an enemy of our democracy and not fit to hold any public office within and outside Nigeria.

The leadership of the Senate was also mandated to look into the matter for further necessary action”, Senate President Bukola Saraki announced the Senate resolutions.
However, sources at the closed doors volunteered that the Senators have also resolved to communicate foriegn missions and international development partners accordingly.
For the third time in two weeks, the IGP has shunned the Senate. He was scheduled to interface with the Senate on the spate of killings across the country; and alleged inhuman treatment of Sen. Dino Melaye “over a matter that is pending before a competent law court.”

Having waited patiently for the IGP to come into the chamber, Senate leader Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North) at about 12.08pm, stood and announced that the police boss was not around to brief the lawmakers.
“For the past two days we have tried to reach the Inspector General of Police to inform him that he should be here today in keeping with our resolution.

We have done that with chairman of Police. Personally, I made attempts to call his line and I sent text messages that he should call me as soon as he was able to see my message.
Clearly, the IG is not here. I think this is very unusual and very unfortunate.
I personally feel that public officers should do what is in the interest of the public and where any public officer cannot do what is in the interest of the public, then, there is no need for such an officer to continue to occupy that kind of office

This institution is now at a crossroad on this. I believe that a decision has to be taken on the way forward.
In a situation where there is consistent non-appearance by the IGP, I don’t think it will make any further sense, to continue to extend invitation until the Senate takes a different decision to make the situation better.
Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba South) in his contribution, called for a closed session to enable the lawmakers determine the action to be taken by the Senate on the IGP action.
“It is sad, it is inexcusable, unacceptable, and condemnable and it calls for immediate action need to take a very drastic action.

We cannot take this embarrassment any longer. This is a national disgrace,” he sounded.
Describing the development as embarrassing to the country and to President Muhammadu Buhari, Sen. Isa Misau asserted that a Senator of the Federal Republic is superior to the IGP by the provisions of the Constitution and that he could summon the police boss anytime.
He also noted that sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution empowers the legislature to summon the Police boss.
Also commenting, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe bemoaned Nigeria’s democracy was dying in bits and that the IG’s non-appearance was an abuse of power

At 12.25pm, the Senate desolved into a closed door session to discuss the matter.
Yesterday makes it the fourth time, the IGP has shunned summons from the Senate, the first being an invitation to speak on a petition against him by Sen. Hamman Misau, (Bauchi Central).
Idris had been repeatedly summoned to address the Senate on the alleged inhuman treatment of Sen. Dino Melaye, who, is currently in their custody and standing trial for alleged gun-running; and the spate of killings by armed herdsmen and militias across the country.

On the two occasions, the IGP errant his Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Operations), Mr. Joshak Habila, to represent him.
However, at yesterday summuon, the IGP neither came nor did he send a representation.