N10 Billion Bribery Allegation: Senate Confronts IGP And Other Newspaper Headlines Today

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris, yesterday told a Senate ad-hoc committee investigating allegations leveled against him that he would not respond to questions. According to the Daily Sun the IGP, who appeared in company with his lawyer, Alex Izinyon, at about 2:30pm, told the committee, headed by Senator Francis Alimikhena, that since the case was already in court it would be sub judice for him to respond to questions from lawmakers.

Still on the IGP’s response to the Senate, Independent headline reads; IGP To Senators: I won’t Answer Your Questions. This according to the media firm is following the heated arguments at the Senate on Wednesday when the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, appeared before the ad-hoc committee investigating allegations of corruption leveled against him by Senator Isha Hamman Misau, the committee sitting as adjourned indefinitely. The IGP, who has a running battle with Misau, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, refused to answer any of the questions posed to him by the investigative panel, insisting that the matter is before the court.

The Guardian had its perspective about the IGP with its headline reading IGP Rejects Senate’s Probe Over Misau’s Allegations. Speaking further on his reasons to not respond to the Senate’s probe, the newspaper informed its readers that Idris who appeared in the company of his Lawyer, Alex Izinyon, around 2:30 pm, told the Senate committee headed by Francis Alimikhena that since the case for which the investigation was ordered was already in court, it would be subjudice for him to respond to any queries from the lawmakers.

Nigerian Tribune had a punchier headline reading; I’m Not Here To Answer Your Questions, IGP Tells Senate Panel. Ibrahim Idris supported his stand on not responding to the Senate panel when he cited Order 53(5) of the Standing Rules which states that: “Reference shall not be made to any matter on which a judicial decision is pending in such a way as might, in the opinion of the President of the Senate, prejudice the interest of parties thereto”. He further informed the Senators at the hearing that “I will not make any oral comment or answer any question in respect of the allegations, in view of various civil and criminal cases pending in the law courts, more especially when the senator has already been arraigned in court in respect of this matter”.

The Punch’s headline this morning takes us to the Controversy Over Alleged $1.4m Scam In Defense Ministry. In details, there was controversy on Wednesday over a contract deal totaling $1.4m awarded by the Ministry of Defense for a United Nations project. An online report alleged that the Minister of Defense, Brig. Gen. Munir Dan-Ali, and three senior officials of the ministry were involve in messy scandal, the Defense ministry spokesman Col. Turkur Gusau, said the contract in question followed due process.

Unfair Appointments, Resource Allocation Breed Crises- Sultan heads the Vanguard today. Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of Nigeria Supreme Council On Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad ABUBAKAR III, yesterday warned against any injustice in appointment and allocation of resources in the country, saying such actions are capable of breeding crisis and disunity in the society.  This is even as President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Reverend Sampson Ayokunle, said marginalization is one major issue forcing some people of the Eastern extradition, under the aegis of Biafra, to seek separation from the Nigerian Federation and asked the government to address their grievances.

Lastly The Nation speaks on the Budget 2018: Better Days Are Coming, Say Experts. They further revealed there is optimism in the land over the 2018 budget. The hope of a better time is based on the fact tha economic indicators have improved. Crude Oli prices are rising and the naira exchange rate us stabilizing; the future looks bright for the economy, frontline analyst Ayo Teriba said yesterday.