Alleged N4 bn Loot:IGP, Saraki Begins Legal Battle Hearing in the legal action instituted by a former governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki against the Inspector General of Police over alleged undue harassment and intimidation will commence may 26,2014. The case was stalled at a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja due to failure of Police to appear in the court. The Police offered no explanation to the Court on the non appearance to defend the suit which also has the Police Commissioner in charge of Special Fraud Unit (SFU) as a co-defendant. When the case was mentioned Mr. Mahmud Abubakar Mogaji SAN, counsel to Senator Saraki announced his appearance while nobody showed up for Police or have any legal representation. However, Mogaji SAN asked the court to grant indulgence to Police by adjourning the case till another day for the Police to be in court to defend the suit against them. The Senior Counsel informed Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed that the adjournment was necessary in order to give Police fair-hearing. Saraki, a Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District in the Senate had dragged the Inspector General of Police before the court over an invitation extended to him to appear before the Special Fraud Unit for investigation into a N4B loan matter resolved in his favour two years ago. In the legal action filed by Mahmud Magaji SAN, Saraki complained of undue harassment and intimidation on the part of Police and sought for protection of his fundamental human rights to justice and fair-play. The former governor sought for court order to quash the invitation on the ground that he had two years ago appeared before the same unit and was cleared of any wrong doing in the matter. The Police had in a letter dated February 19, 2014 with reference no: CR.3000/X/SFU/ADM/BFC/Vol.17/2014 invited the applicant to appear at the Special Fraud Unit, Abuja. Saraki in his suit is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, their agents, officers, jointly, severally either by themselves, privies, servants, however so-called from intimidating, threatening to arrest or as well as other members of his family, his wife, associates namely Mr Toy in Pinhero, Kennedy Izuagbe, Mr. Sunday Iboroh, Peter Osagiede, Abdul Adams and Austin Ikpi. However, in a counter affidavit deposed to by one Jonah Wutu, a Police officer attached to the Legal/Prosecution Section of the Force CID in Abuja and dated March 12, 2014, the police challenged the competence of Saraki’s case against the Police on the ground that Police under the law have powers to make any arrest on suspicion. The motion was slated for hearing on monday but Police bungled the opportunity by its failure to appear in court or legal representation. Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed has however adjourned the case till May 26 to enable Police appear in court to move the motion. The Judge ordered that a fresh hearing notice should be served on Police against the adjourned date.
Posted on: Wed, 07 May 2014 17:19:30 +0000
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