Police IG snubs House of Reps over siege on national assembly

The Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has shunned an invitation by House of Reps Committee on Police Affairs, an appearance requested by members of the committee to explain the reason for the deployment of heavily-armed security operatives at the National Assembly, as well as the firing of the tear gas which prevented House members from gaining access into the chamber.

The meeting, which was scheduled for 10:30 a.m., could not commence until noon, when the Deputy Inspector-General of Police Operations (DIG), SL Wakama arrived, standing in for the IGP.

In a letter from Abba on his absence, the IGP apologized and said that he could not make it to the meeting because the invitation was received on short notice.

But the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Usman Bello Kumo, while reacting to the letter, insisted that the Inspector-General of Police must come in person, and dismissed the DIG.

Adjourning the meeting, the committee maintained that IGP Abba would be given another chance to do the needful by appearing before the committee on Wednesday November 26th at 2:00p.m.

It is believed that the IGP is interested in appearing before the Senate but not the House of Reps and this is set to cause another round of crises as the Honourable members are set for a showdown.