IGP sues Saraki over Senate resolution

AFederal High Court in Abuja has granted leave to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to serve court papers on Senate President Bukola Saraki over the declaration of the IGP as unfit to hold public office.

Justice John Tsoho yesterday ruled that the IGP should serve Saraki through the Clerk of the National Assembly, which wuld make it a proper and valid service.

In the application brought by his counsel, Alex Izinyon (SAN), the IGP is challenging the votes and proceedings by the Senate on May 9 wherein he was declared “As enemy of democracy and unfit to hold any public office within and outside Nigeria.”

The Senate had made the resolution in a closed session, where it deliberated on the IGP’s non-appearance before it in plenary after series of invitations over the security situation in the country.

But the IGP is contending that the Senate acted ultra vires its powers under the constitution by initiating the votes and proceedings “leading to resolution contained in the gazette dated May 9, 2018 imposing a penal sanction” where it viewed his action as disrespectful to the institution.

He is seeking an order of certiorari quashing the entire votes and proceedings and consequent resolution of the Senate, and the report of the Adhoc committee investigating the various allegations against him.

The IGP is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Senate President and the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria “from acting on the said resolution contained in the gazette dated May 9, 2018 or causing same to be acted upon by any person or authority or government agency or carrying out similar or like resolution against the applicant.”

The suit has been adjourned to June 27 for hearing.