For the second time in a week, Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), has failed to appear before the senate, after he was summoned over arrest and detention of Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west.
He was also summoned to address the chamber on the spate of killings recorded in different parts of the country, especially Benue, Zamfara and Taraba states. Instead, the IGP sent Joshak Habilah, his deputy, to represent him.
Idris was similarly summoned to appear before the lawmakers on Thursday, but he had delegated to Habilah, whom the senate rejected, while he accompanied President Muhammadu Buhari on an official visit to Bauchi State.
Ahmed Lawan, senate leader, and Abu Ibrahim, chairman of the senate committee on police affairs, were instructed to communicate the red chamber’s displeasure to him.
The lawmakers also demanded that he appear unfailingly on Wednesday but Idris again sent his deputy to represent him, with the excuse that he was on an official assignment in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna state.
Senate President Bukola Saraki condemned the action of the IGP and described it as a threat to democracy.
The Senate also directed Lawan and Ibrahim to liaise with the Executive regarding the development and report back to it.
'Kunle works with The ICIR as an investigative reporter and fact-checker. You can shoot him an email via [email protected] or, if you're feeling particularly generous, follow him on Twitter @KunleBajo.