Kwara Lawmakers Give Nigeria Police 48 Hours To Restore Saraki’s Security Details

The Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Abdurazaq Atunwa has accused the state police command of flagrant disregard of the law following the purported withdrawal of the police security details attached to the former Governor of the state, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki and has therefore, given them 48 hours to either restore back the former governor’s security details or he will relinquish the police security details attached to his office.

This was part of resolutions passed on the floor of the state assembly on Tuesday.

Speaking with newsmen after the day’s sitting, the Speaker decried the withdrawal of the police security aides of the former governor, who he said served the state meritoriously for two terms of four years each between 2003 and 2011.

According to him, “if the Nigeria police command does not deem it fit to protect a two-term governor and Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, then it is duplicitous to seek to protect a speaker of the state assembly.  As the speaker of the kwara State House of Assembly that enacted the law, it would be utterly improper for me to sit indolently and do nothing in the face of such flagrant violation of its law.

”In addition to the resolutions passed by the assembly today (yesterday), I as the Speaker, have notified the commissioner of Police of the state command that by Friday, I will relinquish the police security attached to me until such time the police security of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki is restored. By virtue of Section 2(3) Paragraph H of the third schedule Law 2010 of the state, governor and deputy governor are entitled to the provision of police security as part of their pension entitlements, it was a law validly enacted by the Kwara State house of Assembly.

”It is quite disconcerting and perturbing that the Nigeria Police command ordered that the police security of the former governor as provided by law to be withdrawn. This constitutes a clear breach of the law. I am given to understand that, the police are themselves compelled to take that action by reasons of, ‘orders from above’.”