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NPF did not authorise suit barring probe into police brutality- IGP
By Modupe Shodeinde
The Nigeria Police Force has come out to disown the suit seeking to stop judicial panels set up by state governments from investigating cases of police brutality.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu directed immediate investigation into the lawsuit filed by counsel to the NPF, Mr. O. M. Atoyebi, challenging the probing into cases of police brutality involving operatives of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The police had in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1492/2020, filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, sought to quash the panels across all states, describing them as unconstitutional.
According to the police, the probes were in 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.”
However, the Police Force in a statement on Thursday, stated that it did not authorize the legal challenge and has directed investigation into the alleged role of the Force Legal Section, including its head, CP Tuesday Assayomo.
According to the force spokesman, Frank Mba, Assayomo who had been queried, might 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.” Mba said.
