18 April 2009

INSPECTOR-GENERAL of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, yesterday dismissed alleged plot spearheaded by a governor from the North Central region to assassinate former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The police boss, who spoke on the issue yesterday in Abuja, said the allegation was discovered to be false after investigation, arguing that the allegation was made to heat up the polity.

The police, according to him, had, therefore, sent the interim report of the investigation to the Federal Director of Public prosecution (DPP), for legal advice on the next step to take.

He argued that those who are alleging that the police only investigated the allegation of AC chieftains concerning the purported plot to kill Tinubu while ignoring the allegation of the PDP National Vice-Chairman on the alleged plot to destabilise the Federal Government are missing the point.

Okiro explained that inasmuch as the police were saddled with investigating allegations, "we are not busy bodies. If the Chairman of PDP or any other person made an allegation, they are supposed to report to the nearest police station or my office. On AC's allegation, the six governors in the North Central zone petitioned my office requesting that the police investigate the allegation to clear them of any embarrassment."

His words, "you will recall that on Monday March 23, 2009, newspaper publications had it that two key officers of the Action Congress, Chief Bisi Akande and Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had alleged that a governor from the North Central zone of Nigeria was spearheading a plot to assassinate the former governor of Lagos state, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

"Sequel to this, on 23 March, 2009, six governors from the North Central zone of Nigeria authored a petition to my office calling for a full scale investigation into the allegation. Since then, I have been inundated with calls and enquiries from both local and foreign sources asking for the position of the allegation.

"I have since constituted a high-powered investigation team to carry our discreet inquiry into the case. Though the investigation is still ongoing, it is important at this time to make the interim finding known to the general public in view of the interest and anxiety the matter has generated.

"I wish to state categorically that Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on interrogation, could not substantiate the allegation nor disclose the source of his information on the alleged plot. He also failed to identify the governor of the North Central zone alleged to be involved in the plot. All efforts made by the police to obtain further information from the suspect on the issue met brick walls and thus putting the entire nation in the dark.

"Beside, Chief Bisi Akande failed to volunteer a statement or show up at the police station to justify his allegation. He continuously feigned illness and has not helped the police in any way to sort out this matter of grave national importance.

"It is pertinent to point out the seriousness and weighty nature of the allegation made by the two party chieftains.

"The Nigeria Police hereby advises politicians to be wary of their statements and actions, especially on issues that touch on life and national security. The President's electoral reform process aimed at sanitising our political process is ongoing and thus needs the cooperation of all stakeholders. The Nigeria police shall not fail to apply the full weight of the law on all persons who, through their acts, design to cause mischief or truncate the peaceful political process in Nigeria."

Reacting to the position of the Inspector-General, the Action Congress said it was surprised that the police found the plot incredible. The party said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, that "we in the AC are not bothered by this well-couched threat, and that we are ready to meet them in court, if necessary".