Alleged Assassination: IG Upgrades Apo Legislative Quarters Police Post, Four Others to Divisional Headquarters

* Incidence at Ekweremadu’s house, an act of burglary, say police

By Alex Enumah in Abuja

Following the failed alleged assassination attempt on the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, the Inspector General of Police (IG) Ibrahim Idris has directed the upgrade of the APO Legislative Quarters police post to a Divisional Police Headquarters.

Before the upgrade Thursday, the post was under the control of the National Assembly Division, it would also now be manned by a Divisional Police Officer (DPO).

Other divisions created by the IG include, a Divisional Police Headquarters for the Supreme Court, Divisional Police Headquarters at Kabusa, Divisional Police Headquarters at Galadimawa and Divisional Police Headquarters at Trademore Estate.

According to the police spokesman, Acting DCP Jimoh Moshood, the move is meant to reduce crime and criminalities in the affected areas and improve police visibility in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The police, in the statement, appealed to Ekweremadu and the Senate to be patient and show understanding while it carries out a thorough and discreet investigation into the incident and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Meanwhile, Moshood reiterated that the incidence of last Tuesday at Ekweremadu’s residence was not an assassination attempt but rather a case of burglary.

“Update on further investigation carried out so far did not reveal assassination attempt on the life of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his family but a case of burglary (house breaking at night time) and attempt to commit robbery in the residence of Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

“For avoidance of doubt, Sections 346 and 347 of the Penal Code Law are explicit on the ingredients and facts to prove house breaking and house breaking at night,” he said.

According to Moshood, going by the provisions of the sections of the penal code mentioned above, “it is evident that nothing is an offence except what the law stipulates to be an offence”.

“The further investigation has taken the police to revisit the scene of crime along with the suspect who explained and showed the police investigators and recorded in camera of how the crime burglary (house breaking at night time) and attempt to commit robbery in the residence of Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu was committed,” he said.

While he stressed that there was no cover-up by the police in the investigation of the matter, he said the four police personnel and personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on duty at the residence of the Deputy Senate President at the time of the incidence have been arrested and are still in detention and being investigated for ne​gligent acts and dereliction of duty.

He said: “Investigation is still ongoing and effort is being intensified to arrest the other suspects at large. The same suspects had earlier at about 0300Hrs of same date broken into the residence of one Mr. Haliru Adamu of No. 38 Denis Osadebey Crescent, APO Legislative quarters where they stole phones, jewelleries and other valuables before proceeding to the residence of the Deputy Senate President. Mr. Haliru Adamu have made statements to the police about the incident.

“It is also not correct that police responded after seven (7) hours, the residence of the Deputy Senate President share fence with the APO Legislative quarters Police post.”