The
Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris has inaugurated a panel to probe the violence that
characterized the last rerun election in Rivers State as well as the alleged
audio tape threat by Governor Nyesom Wike.
The
panel consists of police officers and officers from the Department of State
Services with vast knowledge in investigation, forensic analysis and technical expertise. The fifteen (15)
man panel is headed by DCP Damien Okoro
The
panel, which is to conduct its investigation in conjunction with a team from
the Department of State Services (DSS) has the following terms of
reference:
i.
Conduct a thorough investigation into the role of security agents before,
during and after the election;
ii.
Examine the role of any Police Officer or security agent whose actions or
activities individually or collectively was detrimental to the good conduct of
the elections;
iii. Conduct
a forensic analysis on the audio report released by Sahara Reporters as it
concerns the election;
iv.
Examine any other matter that is relevant to the conduct of the elections.
v.
Make recommendations and implementation strategies to guide future elections
and submit findings within thirty (30) days with effect from 17th
December, 2016.
For
the avoidance of doubt, the 1999 Constitution and other relevant laws empower
the police to conduct investigations into criminal matters across the entire
country.
In
the final analysis, the police is an apolitical organization and must be
insulated from politics.
The
interest of the police as always in the electoral process is to ensure a hitch
free exercise and guarantee due process in accordance with international
standards.
Therefore,
I hereby use this opportunity to implore well meaning Nigerians especially
INEC, Rivers Sate Government to give the panel maximum support and cooperate
with this investigative panel.
This
I believe is in the overall interest and development of electoral process in
Nigeria.
The
Inspector General of Police uses this opportunity to solicit the support of all
Nigerians in ensuring that the panel succeeds in its mandate.
Tags
Politics