Reps summon IG of Police over confrontation with G7 Governors

The House of Representatives has mandated its Committee on Police Affairs to invite the Inspector-General of Police to ascertain the circumstance surrounding the police invasion of Kano State Governor’s lodge in Abuja.
The House made the resolution on Tuesday in Abuja during its plenary.
The committee is expected to report back to the House within two weeks.
The House also condemned in strong terms the actions of the Nigeria Police Force under the command of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) who invaded the lodge on Nov. 3 and told the governors that he was there to stop the meeting
The resolution followed a motion by Rep. Sani Kutigi (PDP – Niger) which was unanimously adopted without debate when put to vote by the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Emeka Ihedioha.
The motion is entitled:” Impunity and Disregard to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999( as amended) by the Nigeria Police Force”.

Kutigi, while moving the motion, expressed concern over the action of the Nigerian Police Force, which he said violated the provision of the Constitution of, sections 40 and 308(1) (a) and (3).
He argued that as members of the House of Representatives, they swore to defend and protect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 at all times.
“The police officer invaded the meeting with instruction to disperse or arrest the Governors if they refuse to stop the meeting,’’ he said.
Kutigi said that the continued impunity and disregard to the constituted authority by men and officers of the Nigerian Police Force was worrisome.
He further expressed worry that the Police authorities had in recent times disrupted several meetings of these governors by sealing the meeting venues.
“If the rights and privileges of these governors and National Assembly members can be so threatened, then an ordinary man in Nigeria has no hope and confidence in the police,” he said.
He urged the House to support the motion so that the relevant committee could hold a public hearing to investigate the matter.