Naira Redesign: Governors Under Investigaton Over Alleged Inciting Comments – IGP

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, has said some governors under investigation for making comments considered to have incited citizens to riot over the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Baba made this known on Wednesday while speaking with State House correspondents after the National Security Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The police chief, however, said despite the investigation, the governors who have been found guilty of inciting comments cannot be prosecuted because they enjoy immunity.

He said: “We all know why the governors have not been cautioned. We are investigating. Whoever does anything can be investigated.

“But for him to be prosecuted, there are some people who have immunity. I think that is one of the reasons, but that will not stop us from cautioning them, from warning them, from advising them; and we are doing so.”

Naija News reports that some governors, such as Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state, had openly challenged President Muhammadu Buhari on the naira swap policy.

While the federal government has declared the old N500 and ₦1,000 notes as invalid, the two governors have said the notes remain legal tender pending the determination of a suit before the supreme court on the matters and asked their citizens not to comply with deadline expiration of the legality of the old notes.

Amid the directives and counter-directives, there have been protests in parts of the country, as well as attacks on banks, including in Ogun state.