House of Representatives Thursday in Abuja threatened
to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of Ibrahim Idris, the inspector-general
of police, if he fails to appear before its committee on police affairs,
January 19.
The threat followed the adoption of a motion moved by Rep.
Gabriel Onyenwife, who condemned the continuous refusal of the IGP to honour
invitations of the committee.
The committee is investigating alleged violation of the 2016
Appropriation Act by the Nigerian Police Force.
But, Onyenwife, while
moving the motion noted that Idris had
failed to appear before the committee to explain why the force diverted N1.2
billion approved for the purchase of 10 armored personnel carriers.
He said that instead of using the approved sum to purchase the
said carriers, the money was rather used for the purchase of 64 Toyota Hiace commuter
vehicles, without the approval of the National Assembly.
He also said that N6billion was appropriated in the same act for
rehabilitation of 102 police stations nationwide, but the amount was diverted
for other uses.
“These infractions of the Appropriation Act 2016, the Fiscal
Responsibility Act 2007, and the Public Procurement Act 2007, are just two of
the several infractions committed by the Nigeria Police Force in the course of
implementation of the budget,’’ Onyenwife said.
According to him, the Committee on Police Affairs invited the
I-G on Dec. 6, 2016 and Dec. 13, 2016 in his capacity as the Chief Executive
and Accounting Officer of the Force to explain or justify these perceived
infractions.
“But he failed or refused to honour the invitations or justify
his failure or refusal to attend.’’ Onyenwife stated.
The House, therefore, resolved to summon the I-G to appear
before the Committee unfailing on Thursday Jan. 19. 2017, to justify the said
infractions of the Appropriation Act 2016.
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