By Carl Umegboro
The Senate’s newest action over the failure of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to appear in person is again reducing the red chamber to disdain. In the first place, it tantamount to undue influence to summon the head of a security agency for arresting and prosecuting a suspect it believed to have committed crimes. As long as the arrest is followed by arraignment in the court of law, the Police have no case to answer.
Secondly, it is out of order for the Senate to interfere with operations and investigations of the Police for whatever reasons. It is important to equivocally state that oversight functions of the Senate do not transcend to interferences with criminal investigations. Police do not convict suspects but merely investigate, arrest and arraign before the court of law for trial.
Thirdly, it is absurd that the senate made the Police Act and Regulation that empowers the IGP to be represented by a DIG in any functions, yet rejected a DIG assigned to duty at its chamber in line with the Police Act and Regulation. The act itself is disrespect to the institution and Nigerian constitution.
Without a doubt, Section 88(1) and 89(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended gives the Senate powers to summon any public officeholders. However, Section 312(1) of Police Act and Regulation specifically provides that “all the functions, duties and responsibilities of the IGP as listed in Section 215 of the Constitution can be carried out by a senior officer of the Force of the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) and Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) 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”. Hence, Police Act endorsed DIG to represent IGP at any functions including at the Senate.
In other words, the Senate turned a blind eye to the provisions of the Police Act and Regulation it enacted which guides Police personnel in their duties. Emphatically, Section 24(a) of 1999 Constitution provides, “It shall be the duty of every citizen to – abide by this Constitution, respect its ideals and its institutions, the National Flag, the National Anthem, the National Pledge, and legitimate authorities”. Thus, if the Police Act permits IGP to be represented by a DIG in any functions, it is unambiguous.
To sum, senate should not heat up the polity over frivolities. The Police are under no obligations to give reasons to anyone for carrying out its statutory duties. If the Senate requires official information on the Police, certainly, any senior officers assigned in line with the Police Act and Regulation can fittingly represent the Force. However, if the Senate is uncomfortable with the provisions of the Act, the appropriate thing is to amend the Police Act. Incidentally, the nation has numerous challenges that require urgent attentions rather than allocating such times and energy on mere politics.
Umegboro, a public affairs analyst writes from Abuja. (07057101974-SMS only
