“Police Can’t Prosecute Tinubu, He Has No Criminal Case With Us” – IGP Tells Court

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alkali Usman has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu has no pending criminal matter with the Police.

Police Has No Certificate Forgery Case Against Tinubu

Usman also told the court that the former Lagos governor had no pending petition and was not a suspect to the Nigeria Police, hence, could not be put on trial.

The explanation was part of the contents of an affidavit filed at the court by his counsel, Mr Wisdom Madaki, in response to a suit instituted by a civil rights group seeking an order of mandamus to compel the police to arrest and prosecute Tinubu for perjury and certificate forgery.

In a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1058/2022 and filed on July 4, Incorporated Trustees of Center for Reform and Public Advocacy, a civil society organisation (CSO), claimed that Tinubu lied under oath when he tendered his credentials to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 1999.

The suit dated and filed on July 4 on behalf of the group in Abuja by Mr Mike Nwankwo has the Nigerian Police Force and the Inspector- General of Police as 1st and 2nd respondents.

The IGP said that the police did not need any court order to make arrests and prosecute since it derived its powers from the constitution and statutes.

Usman prayed the court to dismiss the suit brought against him and the Nigeria Police Force for want of merit and jurisdiction. He also told the court that the plaintiff would not be prejudiced if the suit was dismissed.

Counsel to the group, Mr Eme Ekpu, however, told Justice Inyang Ekwo that the counter affidavit of the police had just been served on him. He prayed the court to give him some time to peruse it and reply to it formally.

In a brief ruling, Justice Ekwo granted the request and fixed Jan. 19, 2023 for hearing of the suit.

KanyiDaily recalls that a federal high court in Abuja dismissed a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking the disqualification of Bola Tinubu, and the Labour Party flagbearer, Peter Obi.