IGP ignores senate’s invitation, heads to Bauchi for Buhari’s visit

Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police (IGP), did not honour the invitation of the senate on Thursday as he headed to Bauchi state where President Muhammadu Buhari will spend the next two days.

The senate had asked the IGP to appear before it over the alleged illegal maltreatment of Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west.

The resolution had been reached by the upper legislative chamber during its sitting on Wednesday.

But when the matter came up at plenary on Thursday, the police IG was nowhere to be found.

The senators were angry that the IGP did not inform them prior to the day’s sitting that he would not honour their summons.

Following the IGP’s absence, Bala Na’Allah, deputy senate leader, told his colleagues that the police chief had informed him earlier in the day that he will be accompanying President Muhammadu Buhari to Bauchi and as such, will not be chanced to honour the summon.

He said Idris had sent the AIG (operations) to stand in for him owing to his absence.

But the senate described the IGP’s reported excuse as given in private conversation with Na’Allah.

They berated the IGP for “disregarding” their summons without giving them prior information about his visit to Bauchi.

Senate President Bukola Saraki said Idris’ visit to Bauchi is a “misplaced priority”.

“The IGP is only accompanying the president on the visit. I am sure if he had informed the president that he needs to attend the senate summons and to attend to issues regarding the killings, I’m certain the president would have allowed him to come here,” he said.

He also said the senate would not invite the AIG (operations) into the red chamber as their business is with the IGP, and not with him.

Thereafter, the senate resolved to again summon the IGP to “unfailingly” appear before it on Wednesday next week.