The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, has told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, has no pending petition or criminal matters with the police anywhere in the country.
The IGP disclosed this in response to a lawsuit filed by a Civil Group seeking an order of mandamus to compel him to arrest and prosecute Tinubu for perjury and certificate forgery.
The Incorporated Trustees of Center for Reform and Public Advocacy, a civil society organization (CSO), had claimed that Tinubu lied under oath when he tendered his credentials to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 1999 while contesting in the 1999 governorship election in Lagos state.
However, the IGP through his lawyer, Wisdom Madaki, said the police have no power to prosecute Tinubu without any known offence committed.
He noted that the two petitions against Tinubu were predicated on allegations that had been adjudicated upon by the Supreme Court in 2002 in a suit filed by the late foremost human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi.
Alkali stressed that the case had been resolved by the Supreme Court and there was no need for the police to reopen the matter.
The IGP who asked the Federal High Court to dismiss the suit brought against him and the Nigeria Police Force for want of merit and jurisdiction added that the police does not need any court order to make an arrest and prosecute since it derives its powers from the Constitution and statutes.
Ruling on the case on Tuesday, November 1, Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the counsel to the Civil group, Mister Eme Ekpu’s request of being given more time to go through the counter affidavit police and reply formally.
Ekwo then fixed January 19, 2023, for the hearing of the suit.
