SAN FRANCISCO, September 18, (THEWILL) –Â A Court in Lugbe, Abuja, has ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to serve a summons on the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to compel him to face a criminal complaint initiated against him by a private lawyer in respect of the bloody bank robbery in which many died in Offa, Kwara State, earlier this year.
The criminal complaint was initiated by an Abuja-based lawyer and rights activist, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, while the Senate President is the sole defendant in the criminal complaint initiated by the private lawyer.
The criminal complaint marked, CR/196/2018, was said to have been initiated by Ojaomo under Section 89(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 seeking Saraki to be summoned for allegedly ignoring police invitation to answer to an allegation involving the investigation of the suspects of the Offa robbery.
The complaint stated that Saraki’s alleged refusal to honour the invitation amounted to obstructing a criminal investigation and disobeying a public officer carrying out a lawful responsibility.
This alleged conduct, it said, was an offence punishable under Section 136 and 149 of the Penal Code Law.
The judge handling the case at the Grade 1 Area Court, ordered the issuance of a summons on Idris following Saraki’s absence from court.
The complainant’s lawyer, Mr E. S. Marcus, said he was informed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police in the Legal Unit of the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, identified as Mahmoud, that the IGP had directed the legal unit to ensure the prompt service of the court papers on Saraki before the next hearing date of October 3, 2018.
According to the lawyer, the Inspector-General of Police is required, under the law, to either produce the defendant in court or attend court to explain why the defendant was absent.
He then applied to the court to grant a short adjournment to enable the police to serve the processes on Saraki.
The judge, Ogbede, granted Marcus’ request and adjourned the case till October 3.
