EXCITING NEWS: TNG WhatsApp Channel is LIVE…
Subscribe for FREE to get LIVE NEWS UPDATE. Click here to subscribe!
By Gabriel Okoro, Abuja
The House of Representatives on Thursday mandated its Committees on Police Affairs, Human Rights and Justice to carry out an investigative hearing into the facts surrounding the time and circumstances of the death of the Offa robbery key suspect, Michael Adikwu and report back in four weeks.
The House charge the Committee to uncover the issues and questions as to when the suspect died, how he died, why the police denied the facts of his death, at what point the police leadership discovered the death of the suspect and why the police are covering up the facts.
These resolution were sequel to a motion sponsored by Mr. Zakari Mohammed (PDP, Kwara) under matters of urgent national importance of the plenary session.
Explaining the motion, Mr. Mohammed revealed that the police initially confirmed to the Attorney General of Kwara State through the Police Public Relations Officer – Moshood Jimoh that the principal was alive and in custody and was helping the police in the investigations of the robbery that led to the killing of 22 people and recovery of firearms that were carted away.
He added that it took the police so long to make the disclosure about the death of the principal after denying its veracity as was reported in the media.
The lawmaker expressed worry that there have been inconsistencies in the various statements by the police and the possible cover up of this extra-judicial killing with the aim of tarnishing the image of some innocent individuals for political purposes.
According to him, the fundamental duty of the police is to protect lives and property of all citizens irrespective of political affiliation.
Mohammed further stressed that “It is the constitutional duty of this hallowed chamber to take action wherever such level of irresponsibility and recklessness of an important law enforcement agency such as the police have arisen in the course of investigations into a vicious crime”.
The motion which unanimously scaled through without debate due to its probe nature as requested by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara who presided, will unravel rights abuse, extra-judicial killings and manipulation of criminal investigation by the police.
Recall that on the 5th of April, 2018, six robbery suspects led by one Michael Adikwu attacked five commercial banks in Offa, Kwara State. No fewer than 32 victims were recorded in the unfortunate attack.