The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, is now in the Senate’s chamber being grilled by the lawmakers over the alleged maltreatment of Senator Dino Melaye during his arrest and detention by the police.
Although the Senate’s plenary was closed at 11:07 am, the police boss was later led into the chamber.
Recall that IGP, who failed to appear during the last invitation, was said to have travelled with President Muhammadu Buhari on a visit to Bauchi State.
He was, however, re-summoned to appear today at 11am.
Saraki during the reinvitation of the IGP said that the dignity and Integrity of the Senate must be protected, and that the IGP must appear .
The obviously angry Saraki said at the time: “Distinguished colleagues, we have taken the contributions and the general consensus is that we give a specific date, Wednesday, May 2, 2018, for the IG of Police to appear.
‘’But as we do that, I take a cue from the comments of the leader which I have strong views on. The dignity and integrity of our democratic authority, we must protect it and we must not allow anybody to show any disrespect or desecrate that authority.
“As I said to you the other day, and I’m sure Senator Abu Ibrahim will confirm, neither Senator Abu Ibrahim nor myself has received any response from the IG of Police in the last 48 hours. “Sending his DIG here today is not respectful enough.
He should have had the respect of this institution to reach the chairman or myself to explain. “We have all been chief executives. If Mr President is going to Bauchi to commission a project, he is only accompanying the President. If he had said to Mr President, with the killings that are going on it is important that I go to parliament, I am very sure that Mr. President will say, IG that is more important, go to the parliament.
“This is the point we are making about those who are appointed, who are creating more problems. “Someone said to me, if a former Minster suspended by the President breaks into the council chambers at the Villa and does some kind of mischief, will the IG of Police not feel he need to report to the President on what actions had been taken?” “This cannot be the kind of democratic setting we expect. As you have rightly said, we must ensure that things are done properly.
We give him until Wednesday, 11am to come here to explain to us what is happening in this country regarding these killings, what do we need to do collectively to bring an end to this killings; what challenges are there; and why are we having these issues? “I don’t think there is anything more important today than these issues. So let us wait till when he comes on Wednesday to address that so that we can find a way forward on this matter.”