The Inspector General of Police has ordered a probe into a suit brought on by the force legal team against States judicial panels of enquiry investigating police brutality.
In posts monitored last night, the IGP also queried the force legal officer who initiated the suit.
The statement said that the “the Force Legal Officer may face further sanctions if found guilty of dereliction of duty.”
Statement from the Police Force:
“The Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has directed immediate investigations into a suit purportedly challenging the legality of the States’ Judicial Panel of Inquiry, investigating allegations by citizens against officers of the defunct SARS.
“The IGP, who gave the order on the heels of trending reports in the media, today 3rd December, 2020, expressed the disapproval of the Force Management Team on the matter and ordered investigations into the alleged role of the Force Legal Section including its Head.
“Meanwhile, the Force Legal Officer has been queried and may face further sanctions if found guilty of dereliction of duty.
“The IGP reiterates the commitment of the Force to fulfilling all its obligations with regards to the disbandment of the defunct SARS, the ongoing Judicial Panels and all other police reforms.”
The police legal team yesterday, through its lawyer, O M Atoyebi (SAN) filed a suit at the Federal High Court Abuja to stop the panels of inquiry set up by various state governments to probe allegations of police brutality and human rights abuses.
Atoyebi argued that the state governments lacked the power to constitute the panels of inquiry to the activities of the force.
Read also:
#EndSARS, #PoliceBrutality: Police Asks Court to Stop Judicial Panels of Inquiry