The Nigeria Police says it will employ all legitimate means necessary to compel the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki to appear before its investigative panel over the April 5 bank robbery in Offa, Kwara State.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris had in a letter of invitation he personally signed Monday night, summoned Saraki to report at the Guzape office of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) for questioning over the robbery incident, which left 33 people dead.
The IGP had indicated in the letter, that the Senate President was expected to offer further explanation regarding his alleged relationship with some suspects linked to the robbery incident.
Saraki was expected to appear at 8:00 am on Tuesday but as at 6:30 pm, he had yet to honour the invitation, even after presiding over Tuesday’s plenary of the nation’s Upper Legislative Chamber.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, the Police Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Jimoh Moshood, said the police would use all instruments of the law, including arrest to ensure the Senate President complies with the law.
“The Force therefore, insists that the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria is being expected to report to the head of investigation team at the Intelligence Response Team office at Guzape junction, Asokoro Extension, Abuja and should honour the invitation, otherwise the Force will not hesitate to use all the instruments of the Law to ensure compliance with the law,” he said.
Although Moshood disclosed that there was no timeline attached to the invitation, he said that the Force would not shy away from its constitutional responsibilities of crime detection.
“The Nigeria Police Force will not abdicate from its constitutional responsibilities of detection of crimes and criminality, and will always treat crime as crime no matter who is involved.
“The force remains focused and will not be distracted from carrying out a discreet and thorough investigation into the indictment of the Senate President,” he added.
Moshood maintained that Saraki had a case to answer, debunking reports that the Senate President was harassed and intimidated physically or otherwise by any of its personnel.
“It is also absolutely untrue that Saraki was harassed, threatened or intimidated physically or otherwise by any Police personnel either from the Force Headquarters or any other formation of the Force,” he said.
The spokesman implored members of the public to disregard and discountenance reports about the blockade of Saraki’s residence, harassment and threat to his life.
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