The Kwara State Caucus in the House of Representatives has accused the Nigerian police of misleading the public in its claim that it transferred some suspected cultists arrested in Ilorin to Abuja based of ongoing investigation.
In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, signed by Hon. Razak Atunwa, the caucus said: “we are aware that the suspects listed by Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, all of whom are now in Abuja, were arrested on 5 May 2018 for the offences of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide”.
They noted that, “after the completion of investigations, the police addressed a press conference on 10 May 2018. During the press conference, the police emphasized the fact that it was ready to arraign the suspects in court.
“The suspects were formally arraigned on 15 May 2018. Due to the absence of the prosecutor, the court directed the Police to bring them back to court the following day.
“On 16 May 2018, rather than bring the suspects to court, the police decided to take them to Abuja without any reference to the court.
“What is logically deductible from the narrative above is that there is no on-going investigation by the police on the case involving the suspects. Therefore, the claim by the IG-P that the statement by the Senate President could jeopardize investigation is totally false.
“The critical question to be asked is why would the IG-P suddenly order suspects who were set to be arraigned in court to be taken to Abuja without reference to the court that is seized of the case?
“Does that not portend an ulterior and sinister motive? It is most curious that the IGP would be so suddenly interested in an investigation that he was prepared to truncate on-going criminal proceedings”.
The Caucus said the response from the IGP, where he tried to present it as a normal routine for police to move suspects arrested from a State Command to the Police Headquarters in Abuja and that the statement by the Senate President could obstruct investigation amounted to total misrepresentation of facts of the matter.
It noted that based on the facts, the Senate President was right to be concerned about the sudden turn of events, given the information he received from the State Governor, who is the State chief security officer.
“Let us also put it on record that Kwara State under Dr. Saraki’s tenure as Governor enacted a strong anti-cultism law under which so many accused persons had been jailed by past and present governments in the State,” it stated.
The Caucus said though the IGP is free to conduct investigations and diligently pursue the prosecution of offenders, it however warned that the Police should not engage in improper conduct with the aim of falsely incriminating innocent people.
“We are not unmindful of the recent rift between the Senate and the IGP. Any attempt by the Police to falsely incriminate the Senate President in order to settle scores will be reprehensible conduct which would be resisted by all legal and lawful means.
“The IGP should stop playing politics with law enforcement work. He needs to work with all stakeholders to succeed and therefore should stop encouraging the “We” versus “Them” campaign now going on across the country about police duties and activities”, the Caucus warned.