IGP Distances Self From Judicial Panel Suit, Set To Probe Action

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has distanced himself from the suit challenging the Judicial panels of enquiry set up to investigate allegations of police brutality and offences of officers of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad across states.

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Adamu also directed an investigation into the lawsuit and the role of the Force Legal Section headed by CP Tuesday Assayomo.

The controversial suit was filed under suit no. FHC/ABJ/CS/1492/2020 before the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking a court order to dissolve all panels, describing them as unconstitutional.

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The police legal team, led by Oyetola Atoyebi (SAN), prayed the court to dissolve the panels, stating that only the Nigeria Police Force could probe wrongdoing of its officers.

The force described the probe as “a violation of the provisions of Section 241 (1)(2) (a) and Item 45, Part 1, First schedule, 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 21 of the Tribunals of Inquiry Act, Cap.T21, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

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But the force spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, in a statement on Thursday, disclosed that the force management did not authorise the legal challenge.

He disclosed that Assayomo, who had been queried, might face further sanctions if found guilty of dereliction of duty.

The statement was titled: ‘EndSARS: IGP orders investigation into alleged suit touching on states’ judicial panels of inquiry’.

It read in part, “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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