#EndSARS: IGP Adamu Denies Asking Court To Stop Judicial Panels’ Probes, Queries Legal Officer

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has denied initiating a suit filed by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) challenging the legality of the judicial panels set up by state governors to probe allegations of police brutality and human rights abuses.

KanyiDaily recalls on Thursday, the police had filed a suit in a Federal High Court in Abuja through its counsel, O.M Atoyebi, seeking to scrap the judicial panels of inquiry set up by state governments to probe allegations of rights abuses following the nationwide #EndSARS protests.

In the suit, the police argued that the state governments lacked the power to constitute the panels to investigate activities of the police force and its officials in the conduct of their statutory duties.

Atoyebi argued that the establishment of panels violates the constitution and section 21 of the tribunals of inquiry act. He also asked the court to restrain the defendants from conducting any investigation or setting up panels to probe the affairs of the police.

However, in a statement signed by the police spokesman, Frank Mba, the IGP dissociated the Force Management Team from the suit, saying the police will not stop victims from getting justice.

IGP Adamu further said that the Force Legal Officer has been queried and may face further sanctions if found guilty of dereliction of duty.

“The Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has directed immediate investigations into a suit purportedly challenging the legality of the States’ Judicial Panel of Inquiry, investigating allegations by citizens against officers of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS),” the statement read.

“The IGP, who gave the order on the heels of trending reports in the media, today 3rd December, 2020, expressed the disapproval of the Force Management Team on the matter and ordered investigations into the alleged role of the Force Legal Section including its Head. Meanwhile, the Force Legal Officer has been queried and may 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 reform,” he said.

This is coming a week after IGP Adamu said that the force will never allow another type of #EndSARS protest again in Nigeria.