Senate committee threatens to issue warrant for arrest of IGP

The senate committee set up to probe Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police (IGP), has threatened to issue a warrant for his arrest.

This is as a result of Idris’ failure to honour its summons.

Isah Misau, senator representing Bauchi central, had petitioned the senate, accusing the IGP of collecting money illegally from police officers and some oil companies.

The Bauchi senator also alleged that the IGP was involved in an affair with a junior female officer, against the rule of the force.

But the police denied Misau’s claims and labelled the lawmaker, who retired from the force, a deserter.

At the hearing on Wednesday, Francis Alimikhena, chairman of the committee, said Idris’s lawyer informed him that his client would not appear because the case is in court.

“Part of the reason why we are inviting the IG has to do with the issue of virement of 2016 and 2017 appropriation act and the oversight raised by senator Misau,” he said.

The chairman said if he failed to appear before the committee, section 89(d) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) would be invoked on him.

The provision states that “the senate or the house of representatives or a committee appointed in accordance with section 62 of this constitution shall have power to issue a warrant to compel the attendance of any person who, after having been summoned to attend, fails, refuses or neglects to do so and does not excuse such failure, refusal or neglect to the satisfaction of the house or the committee in question”.