From Aruga Joe Omokaro, Haruna Tula – Abuja, Mohammed Garba – Kano
The Kano State local government election has come and gone, but the absence of policemen from providing security is causing ripples among police officers. Several officers who spoke to The SUPREME on strict anonymity in Abuja, Lagos and in Kano, are berating the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun for obeying a court order against the constitutional role of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). Some described the order retraining the police from participating in the election as “kangaroo order”, some others say , “it was an illegal order.”
Even a former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) from the North (names withheld) concurred.
What happened in River State local government election where the police obeyed a court order restricting them from providing security for the election, was replicated in Kano.
Spokesperson of Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko on October 3rd, issued a statement restricting police from participating in the election. The officer was complying with a Federal High Court judgement in Abuja, on September 30, 2024, which “prohibited the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies from participating in the Local Government Election. Given these circumstances, the Nigeria Police Force has been advised by the Force Legal Department that the ruling from the Federal High Court on September 30, 2024, takes precedence.”
Police Act To buttress their arguments, some of the officers referred to Section 4 of the Police Act, 2020, that spells out the primary responsibility of the Police, which is to protect lives and property. An officer in Kano noted that, “this is Force you cannot challenge your superior even if you think your opinion is right. You are expected to comply. “
Another officer noted that, police absence posed a danger to the electoral materials which can easily be vandalised by political thugs, and the lives of the Electoral Officers vulnerable to attack. Some officers also frown at the Legal Department of the police for not “saving the image of the Force by giving unprofessional advice.”
One of them opined that, “his (Egbetokun) actions are not only embarrassing to us, they are also embarrassing the President. I’m sure even the Senate that confirmed his appointment are embarrassed. Can he deny that, he didn’t know about the detention and inhumane treatment of the minors,?” the officer queried. The officer commended President Tinubu for doing the “right thing for ordering their release and to investigate those behind them.”
Electoral Act A legal practitioner also analysed the responsibility of the police concerning elections. The lawyer who also pleaded anonymity, explained the Electoral Act 2022, specifically sections 22, 23 and 71.
The learned friend stressed that, “as long as the Electoral Act law is still in force, it is the police that is empowered to enforce the laws in sections 22 and 23 of the Act. Also under section 71. The Electoral Act says that the Police is to enforce these provisions. “If the police did not participate how can they enforce the law?” The lawyer stressed that the Electoral Act stipulates that, a copy of the result sheet at every polling booth should be given to the police, and if the police fail to participate in providing security, it implies that, they are abdicating their constitutional role. The lawyer wondered if the Legal Department of the police is not abreast with Supreme Court order that no court has the right to stop any election from holding.. The lawyer noted that the Legal Department would have advised the IGP to counter the court order
The former IGP responding to our questionnaire stressed that, “I concur with your deduction but…No court should stop the police from performing its constitutional duties. The order should have been contested.”
Retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG Yakubu Mohammed noted that IGP Egbetokun and those who appointed him, “know the game they are playing. No court can stop the police from performing it’s constitutional right. He (IGP) would have informed the Attorney-General to counter the court order through an appeal. It also means that, elections can be conducted in Nigeria without the police. That also, is giving room to governors to have their own state police. In that case, there is no need for Nigeria to have police, then he also have to leave the job., Because, if Nigeria has no police he cannot be an IG.”
Also condemning the decision of the IGP a retired AIG from the South-South, noted that: “Except they know what they are doing, the Legal Department should be able to advise the IG properly. All the Electoral Laws Act, the Police Act are under the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 as amended. The Constitution is supreme. It is the final say.”
Two retired Commissioners of Police (CPs) refused to be quoted. They, however, urged Egbetokun to resign, noting that, he is in a fix if he obeys or did not obey the court order. One of them advised President Bola Tinubu to replace him, if his (Egbetokun) actions are bringing his regime to disrepute.
It could be recalled that in July 2024, The SUPREME reported exclusively that, President Bola Tinubu had penciled down a refined and an experienced officer to replace Egbetokun, the Force Headquarters Louis Edet House was agog. A former IGP from the South (names withheld) expressed surprise that, “if really policemen were rejoicing that the President was replacing the IG, it means they don’t like him.”
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Former IGP, Senior Officers Berate IGP Egbetokun For Obeying ‘Kangaroo’ Court Orders, Urge Him To Resign
Nov 06, 2024The Supreme NewsCover Stories, Issues/Comments0
From Aruga Joe Omokaro, Haruna Tula – Abuja, Mohammed Garba – Kano
The Kano State local government election has come and gone, but the absence of policemen from providing security is causing ripples among police officers. Several officers who spoke to The SUPREME on strict anonymity in Abuja, Lagos and in Kano, are berating the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun for obeying a court order against the constitutional role of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). Some described the order retraining the police from participating in the election as “kangaroo order”, some others say , “it was an illegal order.”
Even a former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) from the North (names withheld) concurred.
What happened in River State local government election where the police obeyed a court order restricting them from providing security for the election, was replicated in Kano.
Spokesperson of Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko on October 3rd, issued a statement restricting police from participating in the election. The officer was complying with a Federal High Court judgement in Abuja, on September 30, 2024, which “prohibited the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies from participating in the Local Government Election. Given these circumstances, the Nigeria Police Force has been advised by the Force Legal Department that the ruling from the Federal High Court on September 30, 2024, takes precedence.”
Police Act To buttress their arguments, some of the officers referred to Section 4 of the Police Act, 2020, that spells out the primary responsibility of the Police, which is to protect lives and property. An officer in Kano noted that, “this is Force you cannot challenge your superior even if you think your opinion is right. You are expected to comply. “
Another officer noted that, police absence posed a danger to the electoral materials which can easily be vandalised by political thugs, and the lives of the Electoral Officers vulnerable to attack. Some officers also frown at the Legal Department of the police for not “saving the image of the Force by giving unprofessional advice.”
One of them opined that, “his (Egbetokun) actions are not only embarrassing to us, they are also embarrassing the President. I’m sure even the Senate that confirmed his appointment are embarrassed. Can he deny that, he didn’t know about the detention and inhumane treatment of the minors,?” the officer queried. The officer commended President Tinubu for doing the “right thing for ordering their release and to investigate those behind them.”
Electoral Act A legal practitioner also analysed the responsibility of the police concerning elections. The lawyer who also pleaded anonymity, explained the Electoral Act 2022, specifically sections 22, 23 and 71.
The learned friend stressed that, “as long as the Electoral Act law is still in force, it is the police that is empowered to enforce the laws in sections 22 and 23 of the Act. Also under section 71. The Electoral Act says that the Police is to enforce these provisions. “If the police did not participate how can they enforce the law?” The lawyer stressed that the Electoral Act stipulates that, a copy of the result sheet at every polling booth should be given to the police, and if the police fail to participate in providing security, it implies that, they are abdicating their constitutional role. The lawyer wondered if the Legal Department of the police is not abreast with Supreme Court order that no court has the right to stop any election from holding.. The lawyer noted that the Legal Department would have advised the IGP to counter the court order
The former IGP responding to our questionnaire stressed that, “I concur with your deduction but…No court should stop the police from performing its constitutional duties. The order should have been contested.”
Retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG Yakubu Mohammed noted that IGP Egbetokun and those who appointed him, “know the game they are playing. No court can stop the police from performing it’s constitutional right. He (IGP) would have informed the Attorney-General to counter the court order through an appeal. It also means that, elections can be conducted in Nigeria without the police. That also, is giving room to governors to have their own state police. In that case, there is no need for Nigeria to have police, then he also have to leave the job., Because, if Nigeria has no police he cannot be an IG.”
Also condemning the decision of the IGP a retired AIG from the South-South, noted that: “Except they know what they are doing, the Legal Department should be able to advise the IG properly. All the Electoral Laws Act, the Police Act are under the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 as amended. The Constitution is supreme. It is the final say.”
Two retired Commissioners of Police (CPs) refused to be quoted. They, however, urged Egbetokun to resign, noting that, he is in a fix if he obeys or did not obey the court order. One of them advised President Bola Tinubu to replace him, if his (Egbetokun) actions are bringing his regime to disrepute.
It could be recalled that in July 2024, The SUPREME reported exclusively that, President Bola Tinubu had penciled down a refined and an experienced officer to replace Egbetokun, the Force Headquarters Louis Edet House was agog. A former IGP from the South (names withheld) expressed surprise that, “if really policemen were rejoicing that the President was replacing the IG, it means they don’t like him.”
For advert placement, media coverage or public relations consultancy, SMS 08057641919
The Supreme News
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