Jimoh Moshood, spokesman of the Nigeria police force, has asked the senate not to “personalise” or “trivialise” the alleged criminal case of Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west.
Melaye has been having a running battle with the police lately.
The police accused him of criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms after some crime suspects reportedly told the police he was supplying them arms.
The senator was being taken to court in Kogi state to be arraigned when he jumped out of the vehicle in a bid to escape but he was later re-arrested.
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After his ordeal, the upper legislative chamber summoned Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police, to brief them on the arrest of Melaye.
The IGP, however, failed to appear before the senate on Thursday and instead sent a representative, a development that angered the lawmakers who summoned him a second time.
In a statement issued on Friday, Moshood said the IGP was unable to honour the senate invitation because he was on an official assignment in Bauchi state.
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He, however, said while the police hold the senate and its leadership in high esteem, “the force wishes to impress on the senate not to personalise or trivialise the criminal offence (criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms and other sundry offence) indicting Senator Dino Melaye … but should allow the rule of law and justice to prevail.”
Below is the full statement from Moshood:
The functions, duties and responsibilities of the Inspector General of Police as listed in Section 215 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can also be carried out as mentioned in section 312 (1) of the Police Act and Regulation by a senior officer of the Force of the Rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police and Assistant Inspector General of Police who if permitted by the Inspector General of Police to act on his behalf or represent him in official capacity at any function, event or programme within and outside Nigeria can do so in consonant with the provisions of the Police Act and Regulation.
2. It is on the basis of the above that while the Inspector General of Police is on an official assignment in Bauchi State that he delegated the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations to represent him and honour the invitation of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria in respect of the felonious offenses for which Sen. Dino Melaye was taken into Police custody, investigated and to be arraigned in the Federal High Court, Lokoja without further delay.
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3. Consequently, the general public are hereby implored to note that the Inspector General of Police acted rightly in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Police Act and Regulation and other extant laws by delegating the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations to represent him at the Senate, National Assembly today 26th April, 2018 to present the Police report, actions and findings in a case of Criminal Conspiracy and Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Firearms and other sundry offenses indicting Senator Dino Melaye.
4. The Nigeria Police Force is a law abiding organization and holds the Senate and its leadership in high esteem, however the Force wishes to impress on the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria not to personalize or trivialize the criminal offence (Criminal Conspiracy and Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Firearms and other sundry offenses) indicting Sen. Dino Melaye from confessions of two (2) suspected kidnappers and Armed Robbers namely: KABIRU SAIDU a.k.a OSAMA and NUHU SALISU a.k.a SMALL; but should allow the rule of law and justice to prevail.
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