KWARA State House of Assembly has called on well-meaning Nigerians to implore the Inspector General of Police, not to destroy the institution of the Police Force in Country.
The call was a sequel to a Motion on IGP V. KWSG: A Dangerous Attempt to Undermine the Fight Against Crimes, Especially Cultism in Kwara State, sponsored by the member representing Ilorin North West Constituency, Hon. Abdul Rafiu Abdul Rahman.
Reading the resolutions of the House, the Speaker Dr Ali Ahmad, explained that the call, became expedient to prevent unnecessary disharmony between the state Ministry of Justice as prosecuting agents, the Police and other investigative authorities which, according to House, will affect the fight against crime and cultism in the state and the general maintenance of law and order.
The House also called on National Assembly to formally alert the United Nations Human Rights Commission on the dangers of misusing the criminal Justice system in targeting independent voices in a democratic system of governance.
Hon. Abdul Rahman had while raising the Motion noted that, Kwara State since they had demonstrated zero tolerance for Crimes in general and Cultism in particular, by enacting 3 successive Laws in 2004, 2013, 2016,noting that the State had a turning point in the fight against Cultism, during the tenure of then Gov. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, when he asserted the first and toughest anti – Cultism law, set up and funded anti-cultism Squad led by a late ASP popularly known as Ogidan, to ensure effective implementation of the anti- Cultism laws.
The Lawmaker disclosed that in furtherance of the zero tolerance for cultism, the state House of Assembly on the 15th May, 2018, organised Security Summit with the personal attendance of the State Commissioner of Police, other Security Agencies, foremost Traditional Rulers with far-reaching recommendations on the containment of the criminal activities, in which the state Governor, Alhaji Abdul Fatah Ahmed immediately gave his commitment to implement the Summit recommendations.
He disclosed that the 6 suspected cult members paraded by the State Commissioner of Police had confessed and their arraignments had been perfected before the Judiciary in the state, when they were suddenly transferred to Abuja, pointing out that, the sudden transfer was an afterthought and attempt to manipulate the criminal justice system to implicate the Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki and the State Governor,
The lawmaker added that several other cultists have their matters pending before the judiciary.
Other members who spoke on the Motion said among other things, that the alleged offences were triable in the state, but the action of the IGP according to them was aimed at carrying out a smear campaign against the Senate President and the State Governor.
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