The Nigerian Police Force has disowned a suit asking a Federal High Court in Abuja to stop the various states’ judicial panels of enquiry probing allegations of rights abuses and other acts of brutality of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad and other police tactical units.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, who expressed dismay at the media reports that had since gone viral, ordered immediate investigations into the suit purportedly challenging the legality of the States’ Judicial Panel of Inquiry, investigating allegations by citizens against the officers.
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It had earlier been reported that the plaintiff in the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/1492/2020, urged the court to restrain the Attorneys-General of the 36 states of the federation and their various panels of enquiry from going ahead with the probe focusing on police impunity.
The report added that the defendants, totalling 104, who were sued by the NPF, comprised the Attorney-General of the Federation, the National Human Rights Commission which set up the Independent Investigative Panel sitting in Abuja, the Attorneys-General of the states, and chairmen of the states’ panels.
According to the report, the NPF, through their lawyer, Mr O. M. Atoyebi (SAN), argued in the fresh suit that the state governments lacked the power to constitute the panels to investigate activities of the police force and its officials in the conduct of their statutory duties.
But reacting in a statement last night, Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the IGP expressed the disapproval of the Force Management Team on the matter and ordered investigations into the alleged role of the Force Legal Section including its Head.
Mba added that the Force Legal Officer has been queried and may face further sanctions if found guilty of dereliction of duty.
The statement read, “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has directed immediate investigations into a suit purportedly challenging the legality of the States’ Judicial Panel of Inquiry, investigating allegations by citizens against officers of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
“The IGP, who gave the order on the heels of trending reports in the media, today 3rd December, 2020, expressed the disapproval of the Force Management Team on the matter and ordered investigations into the alleged role of the Force Legal Section including its Head. Meanwhile, the Force Legal Officer has been queried and may face further sanctions if found guilty of dereliction of duty.
“The IGP reiterates the commitment of the Force to fulfilling all its obligations with regards to the disbandment of the defunct SARS, the ongoing Judicial Panels and all other police reforms.”
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