Reps to probe Mbu’s alleged order for police to kill in retaliation
Reps to probe Mbu’s alleged order for
police to kill in retaliation
THE House of Representatives Tuesday
directed its panel on Police Affairs to
investigate the alleged threat by
Assistant Inspector General of Police
(AIG) Joseph Mbu that his officers would
kill in retaliation, if any of his men is
killed during the coming elections.
A member of the House, Ali Madaki,
had in a motion on the floor yesterday
urged the House to direct the Inspector
General of Police, Suleiman Abba, to
prevent Mbu from playing any role
during the general elections.
Specifically, Mbu had allegedly issued a
threat, and directed his men at the
Ogun State Police Command
Headquarters, that for every policeman
killed during the March and April
general elections, 20 civilians should be
killed in retaliation.
According to reports, Mbu explained
that since policemen are also human
beings, they should be ready to take
revenge on any violent group(s) that
might attack them or other innocent
citizens.
“If one of my men is killed, I shall kill
20 of them, but don’t shoot first. If they
shoot you, shoot back in self-defence.
Anybody who fires you, fire him back in
self-defence.
“If hoodlums or touts decide to be
lawless, carrying knives, carrying illegal
firearms and shooting at my policemen,
if they shoot at my policemen and they
are a hundred or 200, my policemen will
not be looking at them. They will reply
back in self-defence,” Mbu was quoted
to have said in the alleged directive to
his men, justifying the threat on the
ground that his personnel are also
human being.
Madaki, who considered the statement
credited to an officer of Mbu’s status as
unbefitting, was however challenged by
another member, Linus Okorie via a
point of order to the effect that his
prayers before the House was
judgmental, and had breached the
constitutional rights to fair hearing for
Mbu, who is currently the AIG in charge
of Zone 2.
Arguments both for and against the
two opposing members momentarily
stalled the proceedings of the House,
until the Deputy Speaker, Emeka
Ihedioha, who presided advised the
sponsor of the motion, Madaki, to
amend the prayers to the effect that the
relevant committee of the House be
mandated to investigate the allegations,
and report back to the House, a
suggestion the lawmaker conceded to
before the motion was adopted.
Madaki had in the motion he titled;
“Violation of the constitution and
disrespect to the Rule of Law by
Assistant Inspector General of Police
(AIG) Mbu Joseph Mbu” wanted the
police authorities to take other
disciplinary measures against the AIG.
Also yesterday, a brawl was averted on
the floor of the House when an
aggrieved member, Gerald Alphonsus
Irona (PDP Imo), moved to attack the
Majority Leader, Mulikat Akande-Adeola
(PDP Oyo) over alleged neglect.
The development temporally stalled
proceedings and forced an abrupt
executive session where, it was
gathered, members discussed the
matter during the meeting which lasted
for one hour.
At first it could not be established what
had transpired between the duo, but
trouble started when Irona was sighted
moving menacingly to accost Akande-
Adeola at her allotted seat before he
was prevented by the Deputy Leader,
Leo Ogor, and other members
intervened to avert a fisticuff.
Fight now averted, a visibly frightened
Akande-Adeola was sighted as she left
her seat and was seen walking to meet
with the presiding officer, Emeka
Ihedioha, at his post where they both
conferred in hush tones.
While the drama played out, Irona was
heard threatening at the top of his voice
to embarrass the Akande-Adeola, just as
some members, including Ogor and the
Majority Whip, Ishaka Bawa who formed
a circle around him, were seen pacifying
the aggrieved lawmaker.
Irona, it was learnt, had gone to accuse
the Akande-Adeola at the
commencement of session of failing to
extend to him the several invitations
meant for PDP caucus members in the
House.
The development, it was gathered,
prompted the aggrieved lawmaker to
confront Akande-Adeola, saying his non-
invitation was a deliberate action to
scheme him out of the party affairs.
