Abuja – The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, has exonerated the Nigeria Police Force from Tuesday’s blockage of the National Assembly (NASS) by security operatives.
Idris absolved the police of any blame after a closed-door meeting with the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said that the standoff at the NASS complex reached him as a surprise, adding that the police would soon issue a statement in relation to the impasse.
“Obviously, like I said, I have not got a detailed brief on that. In fact we are going to issue a (press) release (on that),’’ he said.
The acting President had on Aug. 7 sacked the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura with immediate effect, over Tuesday’s invasion of the premises of the National Assembly by security operatives.
Osinbajo condemned the unauthorized standoff at the National Assembly complex, describing it as “a gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and all acceptable notions of law and order’’.
He said, the “unlawful act, which was done without the knowledge of the Presidency, is condemnable and completely unacceptable.’’
The acting President, therefore, assured Nigerians that all persons within the law enforcement apparatus, who participated in “this travesty’’ would be identified and subjected to appropriate disciplinary action.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sacked DSS boss had, along with the IGP and the Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari, earlier met behind closed doors with the acting President.
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Saraki to address World Press Conference on Wednesday
Senate President Bukola Saraki will address a World Press Conference at the foyer of the National Assembly at noon on Wednesday, says Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.
Olaniyonu did not indicate issues to be addressed at the conference in a statement he made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.
However, it is expected that the blockade of the NASS by the security operatives and the postponement of the emergency meeting of principal officers of both chambers might feature in his address.
Saraki had on Monday convened the emergency meeting for Tuesday but the NASS blockade by security operatives forced it to be postponed indefinitely.
In a joint statement by Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, they said that the unpleasant development at the assembly complex accounted for the postponement “until further notice’’.
“Following this unpleasant development, the joint leadership meeting slated for this afternoon has been postponed till further notice because it cannot hold under the prevailing circumstances.
“We cannot guarantee the safety of the 20 members from both chambers expected at the meeting.”
The officers condemned the barricade of the National Assembly by security operatives, describing it as “a coup against democracy.’’
“The heavy presence of armed security men who unnecessarily militarised the legislative complex and harassed legislators and workers in the complex could not be justified in a democracy.
“Today is a sad day for democracy,” they said in the statement.
