NOVEMBER 9, 2017“Senate has no legality or otherwise to probe corruption allegations against me”, this was the word of Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris on Wednesday on his verbal attack to the Senate.
The IGP came with his lawyer, Alex Izinyon, told the Senate committee headed by Deputy Chief Whip, Francis Alimikhena that “Since the case for which the investigation was ordered is already in court, it will be subjudice for me to respond to any queries from them”.
He however said he chose to appear before the committee to comply with constitutional provisions which mandated him to honour invitations from parliament.
But the committee ruled him out of order insisting that the judiciary lacked the power to stop the Senate from performing its constitutional duties.
The police boss claimed that the existence of the committee was against the Standing Rules of the Senate.
As a lawyer and the chief law officer of the country, IGP Ibrahim Idris has today honored the invitation of the Nigerian senate, by appearing before the adhoc committee that was set up to investigate the allegations leveled against him by senator Isa Hamma Misau.
However, the IGP was quick to inform the committee that he only came because of the respect he has for the senators, but would not give any oral evidence, because the same issues raised by the senator are in court and once a matter is under legal consideration, it is prohibited from deliberation any where.
The IGP said he has submitted his line by line defense in a documented form to the committee and also drew the attention of the committee to the relevant section of the standing rules of the senate, that prohibits the senate from deliberating on any issue that is under judicial consideration.
Doing otherwise he said, would amount to sub judice and as the chief enforcer of the law, he wouldn’t be involved in court contempt, and pray the senators who are law makers, would not result in law breaking as well.
Dr. Alex Iziyon(SAN), who is standing for the IGP referred the committee to the following standing orders:
PROVISIONS OF THE STANDING ORDERS 2015 AS AMENDED ON MATTERS IN COURT.
Order1(a): The proceedings in the senate and in all committees of the senate shall b3 conducted in accordance with the following standing orders.
Order41(7): The senate shall not receive any petition on any matter for which there is judicial remedy.
Order53(5): Reference shall not be made to any matter on which a judicial decision is pending in such a way as might in the opinion of the president of the senate prejudice the interest of parties thereto.
However, the legal representative,Izinyon, who appeared with the IGP, had a heated argument with senators when he earlier stopped the police boss from responding to questions raised by the committee chairman, Alimikhena.
After interventions from lawmakers, the committee chairman adjourned the hearing indefinitely to enable the panel study the written submission by the IGP and take a final decision.
The committee agreed to adjourn sine die, within which time it would look into the matter and invite the IGP, if the need arises.