#EndSARS: Police Lawyer Might Face Legal Action Over Suit

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered an investigation into a lawsuit filed by the Police challenging the illegality of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up in all the States investigating the accusation against the Police.

This comes after an uproar over the suit filed on Thursday by the Police lawyer, Oyetola Atoyebi, who argued in the fresh suit that the state governments lacked the power to constitute the panels to investigate activities of the police force and its officials in the conduct of their statutory duties.

According to the plaintiff, the state governments’ decision to set up such panels violated the provisions of section 241(1)(2)(a) and Item 45, Part 1, First Schedule to the Constitution and Section 21 of the Tribunals of Inquiry Act.

It argued that by virtue of the provisions of 241(1)(2)(a) and Item 45, Part 1, First Schedule to the Nigerian Constitution only the Federal Government had exclusive power to “organise, control and administer the Nigeria Police Force”.

The IGP expressed disapproval of the Force Management Team on the 3rd of December and ordered an ‘investigation into the alleged role of the Force Legal Section including its Head. Meanwhile, the Force Legal Officer has been queried and may face further sanctions if found guilty of dereliction of duty.

The IGP reiterates the commitment of the Force to fulfilling all its obligations with regards to the disbandment of the defunct SARS, the ongoing Judicial Panels and all other police reforms.’

In October, 2020, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in tandem with the demands of the #EndSARS protesters told State Governors to set up the panel to look into the allegation levelled against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and the police.