The Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress Bola Ahmed Tinubu is to be prosecuted over alleged perjury.
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday granted permission sought by a civil rights organization, Incorporated Trustees of Center for Reform and Public Advocacy to apply for order of mandamus that will compel the Inspector General of Police to prosecute the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over alleged perjury.
Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the leave in his ruling over an ex-parte application argued by the lawyer to the group, Ugo Nwofor.
The ex-parte application was filed by the organisation following the alleged refusal of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba to effect the arrest and prosecution of Tinubu for supplying false information on oath in respect of his educational qualifications.
Nwofor while moving the application informed Justice Ekwo that is predicated on the rule of the Federal High Court to first obtain permission of the Court before proceeding with a suit seeking order to compel the police chief to carry out his constitutional duties.
Justice Ekwo in a brief ruling held that the ex-parte application was meritorious and subsequently granted it.
The Judge fixed November 1 for the hearing of the substantive suit.
The main suit dated and filed on July 4 by the group has the Nigerian Police Force and the Inspector General of Police as 1st and 2nd respondents respectfully.
The group said that the suit against the police became necessary by his refusal to take action on its petition against Tinubu over an offence it claimed the presidential candidate was indicted by the Lagos State House of Assembly in 1999.
The applicant maintained that by Sections 214 and 215, of the constitution and Section 4 of the Nigerian Police Act, 2020, the Police have the statutory responsibility to “prevent, detect and investigate criminal allegations whether brought to their notice by individuals, person or persons, corporate bodies, institutions etc”.
Consequently, the applicant in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1058/2022, is asking the court for, “An order of mandamus compelling the respondents to comply with Sections 31 and 32 of the Police Act and Section 3 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2015 in respect of alleged crime laid out in complaint of the applicant encapsulated in the letter of June 16, 2022 received by the respondents on the same date and titled: Demand for Criminal Prosecution of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu under Sections 191,192 and 463 of the Criminal Code Act, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 Consequent upon the Findings of the Lagos State House of Assembly Ad-hoc Committee, 1999”.