BREAKING: Senate vows to punish Police IG for ignoring lawmakers’ third summon

Again, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has failed to appear before the Senate for the third time within a month.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the lawmakers invited Mr Idris to brief them on the alleged manhandling of Dino Melaye, the Senator representing Kogi West, during his arrest and detention by the police as well as the spate of killings by armed herdsmen and militias across the country.

While the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Operations), Joshak Habila, had been sent to represent the police boss the previous times, there was no representation on Wednesday.

The Majority Leader, Ahmad Lawan, who said efforts by him to reach out to the IG in two days failed, described the non-appearance as “unusual and unfortunate.”

Also, Emmanuel Bwacha called for a closed session for the lawmakers to determine the action to be taken by the Senate against the IG.

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“We need to take a very drastic action. We cannot take this embarrassment any longer. This is a national disgrace,” he said.

Similarly, Isa Misau, pointed out that a senator is superior to the IG by the provisions of the Constitution and could be invited by any of the lawmakers.

He also noted that Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution empowered the legislature to summon the police boss.

According to him, the development was embarrassing to the country and President Muhammadu Buhari.

Commenting, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said Nigeria’s democracy was dying in bits and that the IG’s non-appearance was an abuse of governmental power.

The Senate has now entered a closed-door session.

Details later…