Update! Court Refuses Gov. Wike’s Move To Stop Police Probe

Justice Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday refused to grant Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike’s ex parte application seeking an order to nullify the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris’ letter ordering an investigation into acts of criminality during the December 10, 2016 rerun in the state.

Instead, Kolawole directed that the defendants be put on notice.

The judge also directed that the defendants, after being served with the court processes, should appear in court on January 30 to show cause on why the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs in their motion ex parte should not be granted.

The two plaintiffs, who filed the suit, are the Office of the Governor of Rivers State (first plaintiff) and Wike in person (second plaintiff), while the defendants are the Inspector-General of Police, the State Security Services and a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Damian Okoro.

The Inspector-General of Police was said to have sent the letter dated December 20, to Wike.

The IGP had stated in the letter that “the purview of the investigation will cover allegations of bribes taken, several brazen murder incidents (including that of serving police officers), reports of gross human rights abuses, acts of sabotage/terrorism, kidnapping for ransom and ballot box snatching, all of which were perpetrated in connivance with several federal and state civil servants as well as highly placed politicians within and outside the state.”