The Senate president, Bukola Saraki, has alleged that there is an ongoing plot by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to implicate him in a crime.

Saraki, who made the allegation on Wednesday, May 16, during plenary, claimed that the IGP had ordered that some suspected cultists arrested in Kwara state be transferred to Abuja, where they are expected to make statements that will implicate him.

The leader of the upper chamber accused people in authority of abusing power for the purpose of fighting their perceived enemies.

Saraki said: “My Distinguished Colleagues, there is an issue I need to bring to your attention urgently. Last night, a group of suspects that had been arrested in Kwara state for cultism and whose investigations had been completed, and were about to go under prosecution under state law under the advice of the DPP and Ministry of Justice.

“All of a sudden they have been ordered to be transferred to Abuja this morning. The information reaching [the Kwara State Governor] as he received from the Inspector General of Police, is that they had been directed by the IGP to bring them to Abuja.

“The information that he has is for them to try to see how they will alter the statement that they already made in Ilorin and try to implicate the State Government and particularly myself. As we speak now, these suspects are already here in Abuja.

“These acts are of desperation, blackmail and intimidation. All actions to undermine our democracy are a recipe for anarchy because we are doing our work tasking officials to obey the law, due process and subject themselves to constitutional authority.

“I think it is important that I bring these dangerous developments to your attention, and the attention of the entire country.” Saraki explained that he was bringing the issue to the attention of his colleagues to let them know the gravity of the situation.

“I know the gravity of the issue that is why I am bringing it to your attention and to continue to let our colleagues and the world know presently the danger we are going with and the levels of the rascality that is going on with some of these actions.

I have brought it to your attention and we must continue to play our own role in doing what we believe in the course of our duty. “It is very unfortunate but that it the information I have as of now,” the President of the Senate said.

Following Saraki’s accusation, the Senate resolved that the Senate president should lead a delegation to relay the concerns raised on the floor.

The delegation would consist of the Senate president, the Senate leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan; the chief whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye; and the minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio. Other members of the delegation would included Senator Danjuma Goje, Senator Sam Anyanwu, Senator Aliyu Wammako, Senator Fatima Raji Rasaki, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

See tweets from the Senate on the issue below:

"…from the Inspector General of Police, is that they had been directed by the IGP to bring them to Abuja. The information that he has is for them to try to see how they will alter the statement that they already made in Ilorin and try to implicate the State Government and…"

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) May 16, 2018

Meanwhile, an Abuja division of the Federal High Court has refused a stay-of-execution order requested by the Senate, against a previous ruling of the court regarding the suspension of Delta State Senator, Ovie Omo-Agege.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba had nullified the suspension of Mr Agege after faulting the decision of Senate to slam a lengthy suspension on the senator.

The Senate indicated its willingness to appeal the ruling, and applied for a stay-of-execution order. The order was, however, denied on Wednesday, the senator’s lawyer, Alex Iziyon, confirmed the decision, telling PREMIUM TIMES “it is true”. Giving details of the refusal of the court to grant the request, Mr. Omo-Agege’s media aide, Efe Duku, said the judge ruled that the application sought by the Senate bordered on the initial motion filed by Mr Omo-Agege.