Police arrest, detain ex-Gov Lamido over incitement

THE police in Kano State, on Sunday, arrested the immediate past governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido.

This came as the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 1, Kano, Mr Kayode Aderanti, said Lamido would remain in their custody for further investigation.

A source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the former governor was arrested for allegedly inciting his supporters to stop the conduct of the upcoming local council polls.

NAN reported that the arrest might be connected with a programme aired on one of the radio stations in Kano.

The former governor was alleged to have directed his supporters, during the programme, to ensure that they win the local government election by all means.

He was also said to have told them that they should do whatever they could to win the election slated for July 1 and that if they were arrested, he would get them on bail.

The former governor was arrested at his Sharada Kano residence in the early hours of Sunday by the Zonal Investigative Bureau unit of Zone 1 command of police.

Aderanti, speaking through the zonal Police Public Relations Officer, Sambo Sokoto, while briefing newsmen on Sunday evening, said the former governor ‘honourably’ presented himself before the police after an invitation was sent to him to answer questions.

“The invitation was as a result of a complaint we received from the Jigawa State government on April 27 following an inciting statements alleged to have been made on a local radio by Lamido.

“The Jigawa State government alleged that the former governor called on his supporters in the state to stop the conduct of the upcoming local council polls in the state by all means,” he said.

According to him, the statement made by Lamido was capable of breaching the public peace.

He said it was a public offence contrary to Section 114 of the Penal Code of Nigeria, adding that as the investigation was completed, Lamido would be charged to court for appropriate prosecution.

The police, who searched his house in Kano, said no incriminating items were found.