Suspects’ transfer: Come clean, Kwara reps tell police

The Kwara State Caucus in the House of Representatives has accused the Nigerian Police of misleading the public in its claim that it transferred some suspected cultist arrested in Ilorin to Abuja based of ongoing investigation.

A statement issued yesterday in Abuja signed by Razak Atunwa, said: “We are aware that the suspects listed by Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, all of whom are now in Abuja, were arrested on May 5, 2018 for the offences of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.

“After the completion of investigations, the Police addressed a press conference on May 10, 2018. During the press conference, the Police emphasised the fact that it was ready to arraign the suspects in court.

“The suspects were formally arraigned on May 15, 2018. Due to the absence of the prosecutor, the court directed the Police to bring them back to court the following day.

“On May 16, 2018, rather than bring the suspects to court, the Police decided to take them to Abuja without any reference to the court.

“What is logically deductible from the narrative above is that there is no ongoing investigation by the Police on the case involving the suspects. Therefore, the claim by the IGP that the statement by the Senate President could jeopardise investigation is totally false.”

They added: “The critical question to be asked is: Why would the IGP suddenly order suspects who were set to be arraigned in court to be taken to Abuja without deferrence to the court that is seized of the case? Does that not portend an ulterior and sinister motive?

“It is most curious that the IGP would be so suddenly interested in an investigation that he was prepared to truncate ongoing criminal proceedings.”

The caucus said the response from the IGP, where he tried to present it as a normal routine for Police to move suspects arrested from a State Command to the Police Headquarters in Abuja and that the statement by the Senate President could obstruct investigation amounted to total misrepresentation of facts of the matter.