Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, on Monday, fired back at Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s allegations regarding the police’s actions during the recent local government elections in Rivers State.
Egbetokun described Fubara’s outburst as “unwarranted” and “based on no material facts.”
The controversy began when Fubara accused the Nigeria Police Force and its Rivers State Command of attempting to steal election materials, which was thwarted. He also cautioned Egbetokun to be mindful of his role as head of the police force during a press conference in Port Harcourt.
In response, Egbetokun reaffirmed the police’s neutrality and non-interference in political affairs, stating that they only acted in line with an existing court judgment from the Federal High Court. According to Egbetokun, the police were served with an order of injunction on July 19, 2024, barring them from participating in the LG election, deeming it unlawful.
However, a counter order was issued by the Rivers State High Court on September 4, 2024, directing the police and other federal security agencies to provide security at the LG elections. The police were not a party to this suit. Later, the Federal High Court delivered a judgment on September 30, 2024, nullifying all previous activities related to the LG election and ordering the police to stay away from providing security.
Egbetokun emphasized that the police acted within the legal framework, forwarding the three court orders to their legal section for advice. Based on this advice, the IGP ordered the Rivers State Police Command to abide by the Federal High Court’s ruling and communicated this to Fubara via a letter dated October 2, 2024.
The statement reads, “In response to the misinformation circulating in the media space with regards to the actions of the NPF in the Rivers State political arena, particularly regarding the just concluded Rivers State local government elections, the Force wishes to debunk the prevailing falsehood of partisanship and reaffirms its neutrality and non-interference in political affairs within the state and the country in general, as the NPF only acted in line with an existing court judgment of the Federal High Court.
“Firstly, the NPF was served with an order of injunction by the Federal High Court made on July 19, 2024, barring the police from participating in the LG election, deeming it unlawful.
“Secondly, the Rivers State High Court issued a counter order on September 4, 2024, directing the NPF and other federal security agencies to provide security at the LG elections. It should be noted that the NPF was not joined as a party in this suit.
“All these orders and counter orders were served on the police. The IGP, being a thoroughbred committed to operating within the legal framework, forwarded the three court orders to the Force Legal section for advice.
“For the information of members of the public, the Force legal section boasts of sound and experienced lawyers who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession, including a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
“Based on the legal advice received from the Force Legal Office, the IGP ordered the Rivers State Police Command to abide by the ruling of the Federal High Court and also communicated the same to the Governor of Rivers State via a letter with reference number CH:3514/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.38/260 dated October 2, 2024, where the IGP advised the governor to also abide by the court ruling in the interest of peace and well-being of the people of Rivers State”, the statement added.
It said the “misinformation, triggered by the unwarranted outburst of the Executive Governor of Rivers State, based on no material fact was uncalled for and unfair to the law enforcement institutions in Nigeria.”