The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alkali Usman, has revealed why the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) could not prosecute Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), following his alleged certificate forgery and other corruption allegations.
According to him, Tinubu has no pending criminal matter with the police.
The politician has been assailed with corruption allegations long before he indicated an interest to rule Nigeria.
Usman stated this in response to a suit seeking to compel him to commence a perjury trial against Tinubu.
In a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1058/2022 and filed on July 4, Incorporated Trustees of Center for Reform and Public Advocacy, a civil society organisation (CSO), claimed that Tinubu lied under oath when he tendered his credentials to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 1999.
Tinubu contested the Lagos governorship seat at the time.
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In a counter affidavit filed by Barrister Wisdom Madaki, the IGP explained that the two petitions it had against the presidential candidate were on allegations that had been adjudicated upon by the supreme court in 2002 in a suit filed by the late human rights activist, Gani Fawehinmi.
He prayed the court to dismiss the suit brought against him and the Nigeria police force for want of merit and jurisdiction.
At the court session on Tuesday, November 1, Eme Ekpu, counsel to the plaintiff, prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him to peruse and respond to the IGP’s counter affidavit.
The presiding judge, Inyang Ekwo, granted the request and fixed January 19, 2023, for hearing.