Niger govt drags IG, others to court

Dipo Laleye, Minna - 29.01.2008

THE Niger State government has dragged the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, to court over the decision of the police authorities to ask the state attorney general and commissioner for justice to return the case file in the suit involving the government and a private firm, Ned Nwaoko Nigeria Limited.

Joined as defendants in the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Minna, were Assistant Commissioner of Police, Amechi Elumelu, state Commissioner of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation.

In the suit, which also had as co-plaintiff, the state attorney general and commissioner for justice, the state government is praying the court to decide whether or not the state police command had the powers to investigate criminal offences under a state law.

The government also wants the court to decide if the Inspector General of Police or any police officer could compel the attorney general of the state to “visit their office in Abuja in respect of a criminal matter which is already pending in court after completion of police investigations.”

The government wants a declaration that the defendants cannot re-investigate a criminal matter which had already been “fully investigated” and is pending in court without an order of court or a directive by the attorney general.

The suit, filed by the state Director of Civil Litigations, Ndagi Wali, wants an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants “by themselves, privies, agents or any person from compelling/directing the socond plaintiff to submit to or return to them, any case diary in respect of a completed criminal investigation.”