The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has insisted on the investigation of Senator Buruji Kashamu (Ogun East) over his alleged involvement in the attempted assassination of a House of Representatives member from the state, Oladipupo Adebutu.
Idris said Kashamu was also required by the police to substantiate his counter-allegations against Adebutu (in Kashamu’s counter-petition to the police) that he (Adebutu) was instigating the police to, among others, arrest him (Kashamu) and transport him to the United States of America.
These were contained in a counter affidavit and written address the IGP filed in response to a fundamental rights enforcement suit instituted by Kashamu before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Kashamu is praying the court to, among others, restrain the IGP, the Director General of the State Security Services (who are listed as 1st and 2nd respondents) from arresting him.
Idris urged the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that it was intended to frustrate police’s investigation into allegations and counter-allegations contained in the petitions by Adebutu(, representing Ikenne, Sagamu and Remo North Federal Constituency in Ogun State) and Kashamu.
He urged the court not to allow itself to be used by Kashamu to hinder the police in the performance of its statutory duties of investigating allegations of criminal conduct and protection of citizens’ lives and property.
Adebutu had, in his petition dated August 22, alleged among others, that Kashamu, who belonged to an opposing faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, led some 50 thugs to attack him and almost killed him a night before the botched national convention of the PDP in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.
Kashamu, in his counter-petition, dated August 26 denied Adebutu’s allegation, accusing him of being encouraged in his acts by some chieftains of the PDP in the South West.
He accused Adebutu of working with the police and DSS to abduct him and ship him to the US unlawfully.
Idris said: “This court cannot assume the criminal investigative power of the police to investigate the allegations made against each other in exhibits P1 and P2 (the petitions by Adebutu and Kashamu to the police).
“It is after the police have performed this role that the court will be called upon to adjudicate on the matter,” the IGP said in his written address to the counter-affidavit.
An Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Sunday Adams, attached to the police’s Special Investigation Panel (SIP) said the IGP has referred the petitions to his panel and that they were planning to invite Kashamu and Adebutu.
Adams, who deposed to a supporting affidavit to the IGP’s counter-affidavit, stated that “the SIP, for the purpose of investigation, will invite the applicant (Kashamu) and the 3rd respondent (Adebutu), who are both complainants to determine the veracity of their allegations made against each other.”
