The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alkali Usman has explained why All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu has not been prosecuted for certificate forgery.
The IGP gave the explanation in response to a lawsuit seeking to compel him to commence a perjury trial against Tinubu.
In a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1058/2022 and filed on July 4, the Incorporated Trustees of Center for Reform and Public Advocacy, a civil society organisation (CSO), claimed that Tinubu lied under oath when he tendered his credentials to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 1999, while contesting for Lagos governorship seat. Though the group said the IGP is empowered by the constitution and police act to probe criminal allegations levelled against anyone, Alkali through his lawyer Wisdom Madaki, said the police cannot prosecute Tinubu without any known offence committed.
Alkali who also stressed that Tinubu has no pending criminal matter with the police, added that the two petitions it had against the presidential candidate were on allegations that had been adjudicated upon by the supreme court in 2002 in a suit filed by the late human rights activist, Gani Fawehinmi.
He added that since the alleged perjury and certificate forgery had been resolved by the Supreme Court, there was no need for the police to reopen the matter. The IGP who further stated that the police does not need any court order to make arrest and prosecute since it derives its powers from the Constitution and statutes, asked the Federal High Court to dismiss the suit brought against him and the Nigeria Police Force for want of merit and jurisdiction adding that the plaintiff will not be prejudiced if the suit is dismissed.
At the court session on Tuesday November 1, counsel to the Civil group, Mister Eme Ekpu told Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo that the counter affidavit of police had just been served on him and he needs time to go through it and reply formally. In a brief ruling, Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the request and fixed January 19, 2023 for hearing of the suit.