Why Police Cannot Prosecute Tinubu Over Alleged Certificate Forgery – IGP

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alkali Baba Usman on Tuesday revealed why the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu can not be prosecuted over alleged certificate forgery.

Usman on Tuesday told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that no petition has been filed with the security agency against Tinubu.

He further stated that Tinubu cannot be put on trial because he is not a suspect.

The police revealed the reasons why it can not prosecute Tinubu in an affidavit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja by a counsel, Wisdom Emmanuel Madaki.

The IGP reacting to a suit instituted by a Civil Group seeking an order of mandamus to compel him to arrest and prosecute Tinubu for perjury and certificate forgery said the police have no power to prosecute Tinubu without any known offence committed.

Although the affidavit claimed that Tinubu has no pending petition before the police, the IGP, however, admitted having two different petitions from a Civil Group, Incorporated Trustees of Center for Reform and Public Advocacy requesting for arrest and prosecution of Tinubu for alleged perjury and certificate forgery related offences.

The IGP explained that the two petitions were predicated on allegations that had been adjudicated upon by Supreme Court in 2002 in a suit filed by the late foremost human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi.

The affidavit averred that since the alleged perjury and certificate forgery had been resolved by the Supreme Court, there was no need for police to reopen the matter again.

Besides, the IGP said the police do not need any court order to make arrests and prosecute since it derives its powers from the Constitution and statutes.

IGP asked the Federal High Court to dismiss the suit brought against him and the Nigeria Police Force for want of merit and jurisdiction adding that the plaintiff will not be prejudiced if the suit is dismissed.

The Police boss asserted that the suit on the alleged perjury and certificate forgery is frivolous and vexatious and deserves no attention from the Court.

Counsel to the Civil group, Eme Kalu Ekpu at the hearing on Tuesday told Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo that the counter affidavit of police had just been served on him and that he needed time to peruse it and reply to it formally.

Ekpu asked Justice Ekwo to grant him a short adjournment to enable him to react to the counter affidavit properly.

Justice Ekwo in his ruling granted the request and fixed January 19, 2023, for the hearing of the suit.

The IGP was dragged before the court by the Incorporated Trustees of the Center for Reform and Public Advocacy over his alleged refusal to prosecute the presidential candidate of the APC over allegations bothering on perjury.