Court dismisses suit seeking to remove AIG Mbu

Paul Dada

Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court, has on Tuesday, dismissed the suit seeking the removal of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, from office for allegedly abusing powers.

The suit which was filed by a lawyer, Tope Alabi, was precipitated by a statement allegedly made by Mbu, wherein he threatened to kill 20 civilians in place of a policeman that may be killed during the April general elections.

While delivering judgment in the suit,  Justice Buba held that no court in Nigeria could declare the office of an officer of that rank vacant. He said that it was the duty of the police to do so.

“If any threat is made against any person, it is the duty of the police to investigate and punish the officer who made it accordingly, even if it is an AIG.

“No court in Nigeria can declare the office of such officer vacant, it is the duty of the police, ” the judge said.

He said that the case of the plaintiff had no merit even as he dismissed it.

In the  suit, with number FHC/L/CS/149/15, the lawyer was seeking a declaration that the first defendant (Mbu) was unfit to be a police officer in Nigeria.

He prayed the court to direct the former Inspector General of Police, IGP, Suleiman Abba, the Police Service Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke, (who are the second to fourth defendants), to declare Mbu’s office vacant and replace him without further delay.

He said hat Mbu, as a senior police officer, swore to uphold to the rule of law and abide by the constitution, but behaved as if he was above the law.

But Mbu, who is in charge of Zone 2, comprising Lagos and Ogun States, in his counter-affidavit denied ordering the police to kill twenty civilians in place of a policeman that may be killed during the general elections.

He denied ever making the alleged statement. He said that he only ordered that any policeman shot by any person could shoot back in self defence.