The Police High Command has shed more light on why the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, could not be personally present before the Senateon Thursday.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Force Public Relations officer (FPR0), ACP Jimoh Moshood, the Police said that the IGP acted within the Police Act by sending a representation so as not to appear as if he deliberately shunned the Senate since he was on an official assignment.

The Police also urged the Senate to know that the IGP held the institution in high esteem but should not try to personalise or trivialise the allegation of possession of illegal arms levelled against Senator Dino Melaye currently being investigated.

The statement reads: “The functions, duties and responsibilities of the Inspector General of Police as listed in Section 215 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can also be carried out as mentioned in section 312 (1) of the Police Act and Regulation by a senior officer of the Force of the Rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police and Assistant Inspector General of Police who if permitted by the Inspector General of Police to act on his behalf or represent him in official capacity at any function, event or programme within and outside Nigeria can do so in consonant with the provisions of the Police Act and Regulation.

“It is on the basis of the above that while the Inspector General of Police is on an official assignment in Bauchi State that he delegated the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations to represent him and honour the invitation of the Senate, the Federal Republic of Nigeria in respect of the felonious offenses for which Sen. Dino Melaye was taken into Police custody, investigated and to be arraigned in the Federal High Court, Lokoja without further delay.

“Consequently, the general public are hereby implored to note that the Inspector General of Police acted rightly in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Police Act and Regulation and other extant laws by delegating the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations to represent him at the Senate, National Assembly today 26^thApril, 2018 to present the Police report, actions and findings in a case ofCriminal Conspiracy and Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Firearms and other sundry offensesindicting Senator Dino Melaye‎

“The Nigeria Police Force is a law-abiding organization and holds the Senate and its leadership in high esteem, however the Force wishes to impress on the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria not to personalize or trivialize the criminal offenses (Criminal Conspiracy and Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Firearms and other sundry offenses) indicting Sen. Dino Melaye from confessions of two (2) suspected kidnappers and Armed Robbers namely:KABIRU SAIDU a.k.a OSAMA and NUHU SALISU a.k.a SMALL;but should allow the rule of law and justice to prevail.” (Nigerian Tribune)