Killings, Melaye: Again, IGP snubs Senate over invitation

* Senators angry, resolve to report Idris to Buhari
* Give IGP 7-day ultimatum to honour invitation
* Drama as police rearrest Melaye after bail
The Senate on Wednesday resolved to drag the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to President Muhammadu Buhari for turning down invitation by the upper chamber for a second time running.

The IGP had shunned the Senate’s summons, failing to appear at plenary to brief the lawmakers on the inhuman treatment of their colleague, Senator Dino Melaye and killings across the country upon his invitation last week Thursday.

The lawmakers on Wednesday adopted an admonition from the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, that the Senate leader, Ahmed Lawan and chairman, Senate committee on Police Affairs, Abu Ibrahim, should engage the executive and report back to the whole house within a week.

Saraki, who tried frantically to calm his furious colleagues, asked that the matter should be approached with maturity and statesmanship.

He said no IGP has ever refused Senate invitation since the inception of democratic dispensation. The Senate president said IGP Idris had set a precedent by refusing to appear before the upper chamber.

He added that the IGP had refused to obey President Buhari’s order to relocate to Benue State at the heat of herdsmen killings in the state.

Deputy Senate Leader, Ibn Na’llah, has earlier moved that Saraki should lead a delegation to meet with President Buhari on the continuous disrespect of the legislative institution.

He said, “Something has to be done. We need a delegation of the Senate under your leadership to register the displeasure of the Senate for turning down our invitation twice by the Inspector General of Police.

“It is insult on our collective responsibility as senators. Those who occupy public office whose conduct run fowl of the good intention of this government and in assisting Mr. President, such should be condemned”,

“We need to put out of corridors of power sycophants, and those that have no respect for rule of law and democratic process and institutions of democracy”.

Coming out of a one and half hour closed-door meeting, the Senate suspended its standing order 17 to allow the Inspector General to be invited to the hallowed chamber, but were disappointed by his absence again.

Senator Abu Ibrahim, the chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, said he had not been able to reach Idris for a while.

“I tried yesterday (Tuesday) to reach the DIG, unfortunately, I couldn’t reach him,” he said.

According to him, after the summon last week Thursday, the Clerk wrote to Idris and thereafter he met with him. Ibrahim said he implored Idris to make appearance at the meeting.

He added that he later found out late on Tuesday night that Idris had travelled to Kaduna instead of honouring the Senate invitation.

“Later, I found out that he is in Kaduna, he is going to Birnin Gwari where there are incessant killing,” Ibrahim said.

The police boss was first summoned on Wednesday April 25 but he failed to appear.

On Thursday when he was supposed to appear, the chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Abu Ibrahim, informed the lawmakers that the IGP was in Bauchi in the entourage of President Muhammadu Buhari, and could not honour the invitation.

Meanwhile, to forestall further escalation of the communal clash between communities in Cross River and Abia states and prevent loss of more lives, the Senate, on Wednesday, urged the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police to quickly take action and intervene to restore order, peace and normalcy in the affected communities.

The upper chamber also directed its Committee on States and Local Governments to investigate the breach of peace and public order as a result of invasion of Isu Community in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State by people of Utuma Community in Biase Local Government Area of Cross Rivet State.

The communal clash has led to wanton destruction of houses, property and loss of not less than 50 lives of residents.

The Senate also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to move in to assess the situation and provide emergency required relief materials to displaced citizens.

The Senate was conscious that the preservation of Iives and property of citizens, remains the primary concern.

It was aware that any threat to lives and property of Nigerian citizens wherever these occur, are serious threat to national unity and co-existence and must properly be addressed.

These followed a motion by Senator Mao Ohauabunwa (PDP, Abia North) on the recent cross-border invasion of Isu Community of Abia State by Utuma community of Cross Rivet State

Also on Wednesday, Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki in defence of the establishment of the National Assembly Museum and Archives, said the idea was not to immortalise the lawmakers but entrenching lasting legacies of the parliament.

While inaugurating the ad-hoc committee on the establishment and development of the museum and archives at the National Assembly on Wednesday, he said “some people have suggested, erroneously, that we want to establish a Museum and Archives to immortalise ourselves. But nothing could be further from the truth.

“This is about institution building, it is about institutional memory, it is about legacy; and most of all, and it is about the greatness of Nigeria. Parliamentary libraries can be found all over the world”.

He made reference to the Library of Congress in the United States which was founded in 1800; the House of Commons Library in the United Kingdom, founded exactly 200 years ago, in 1818. He said “it is in that same tradition that we seek to establish such a venerable institution in our National Assembly”.

Saraki noted that information availability is critical to the functioning of democratic legislatures while access to information is crucial to the strengthening of parliamentary oversight, and to improving the work of representatives as well as accountability to the electorate.

He said, “Museums and archives play an important role in preserving legislative records for posterity. This becomes even more critical in a fledgling democracy such as ours.

It would be best if we are able to draw on the deeds and records of past National Assemblies, to enable us cross the bridge of memory that was broken by the military years. This way, we will not keep re-inventing the wheel in our quest for nationhood.

“There is also the need for greater intellectual depth in our public life. A Museum and Archives would give a leap to intellectualism in our legislative activities.

It also promises to be an invaluable repository of knowledge that would be of untold benefit to scholars, historians, students and citizens in general”, he added.

In her welcome address, Chairman, Senate committee on Culture and Tourism and chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Senator Fatimat Raji-Rasaki, said the National Assembly Museum will serve as an insurance against forgetfulness and memory loss about parliamentarians from past to present.

She said the museum “will provide a great storage of information for contemplation and reflection that will build capacities within the young and old. It will nourish hopes of would be contestants in politics, strengthen democratic processes and the art of making laws”.

She promised on behalf of members of the committee to develop a legacy and a bequeathing museum and archive that will meet the test of time, hoping that it will be a deserving repository of proceedings and a documentation of happenings within the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly.

In a related development, the Chief Magistrates’ Court Wuse Zone 2, Mabel Segun-Bello, on Wednesday, admitted Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West), to bail after the Nigeria Police arraigned the embattled Senator for allegedly jumping from police vehicle on April 24, 2018 at Area One roundabout in Abuja.

Melaye was granted bail on the sum of N90 million with two sureties, one of which must be a civil servant on grade level 14. The two sureties must also have landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

Chief Magistrate Segun-Bello also ordered Melaye to deposit his international passport with the Court Registrar and for him, the defendant, to report to the Divisional Police officer in Wuse once a week.

Adducing reason for granting the bail, Segun-Bello ruled that the prosecution who vehemently opposed the bail did not place before the court any material to show that Melaye will destroy evidence.

But hours after the ruling, armed policemen came inside the courtroom and carried Senator Melaye on a stretcher into a waiting ambulance that brought him and drove away.

His lawyer told reporters that the police long escort of vehicles was taking him to Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, to face charges of unlawful possession of Firearms.

According to the Police Information Report (FIR), Senator Melaye broke the side windscreen of of Police Hilux bus and attempted to kill himself by jumping out of the bus while shouting “I want to kill myself and implicate the police”.

The FIR also stated that Melaye resisted re-arrest with the help of his brother, Samuel Melaye and one Barrister Amefula David Emeka and he finally escaped, threatening to injure police officers.

The FIR stated that the offences are contrary to and punishable under sections 248,153,172, 173, 231 and 326 of the panel Code.

The FIR read thus: “On the 24 of April 2018 about 1330hrs at Area one round about Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, you Senator Dino Melaye of the Federal Republic of Nigeria while being conveyed in a Police White Hilux Bus with registration number NPF 3354 D to Lokoja Kogi State to be arraigned in Court for conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms in charge number CMCL/ 145C/ 2018 filed at the Chief Magistrates’ Court Lokoja,

“You Senator Dino Melaye intentionally broke the side windscreen of the Bus and jumped out of the bus after it was blocked by a Hilux vehicle with registration number Kaduna MKA 603GY occupied by your younger brother, Samuel Melaye and one Barrister Amefula David Emeka and driven by yet to be identified person who escaped from the scene after the blockade.

“You Senator Dino Melaye after breaking the side windscreen attempted to kill yourself by jumping out of the bus and fell on the ground and thereafter started shouting that you want to kill yourself and implicate the police for your death.

“That Police officers who were escorting you in the bus tried to re-arrest you back to the bus but you resisted further arrest with the help of your brother, Samuel Melaye and some lawyers in your company and and further threatened to injure the police officers if they try to further arrest you and you fully escaped from the scene in another Hilux vehicle and thereby committed an offence punishable under sections 148, 153, 172, 173, 231, and 326 of the Penal Code.

When the FIR was read by the court clerk, Melaye pleaded not guilty. His lawyer, Nkem Okoro, applied for his bail on the grounds that the alleged offences are bailable.

He also cited the health condition of Melaye who was brought to the court on stretcher.

Opposing the bail application, Police private lawyer, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), urged the court to refuse the bail because the defendant will temper with the evidence and witnesses.

The matter has been adjourned to June 6, 2018 for trial.