By Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
The Kwara State House of Assembly at the weekend urged the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to transfer eight suspects arrested in connection with the alleged possession of 11 human skulls and other parts to Ilorin, the state capital for trial.
The lawmakers said, since the affected suspects were arrested at Adewole area, Ilorin, the state capital, they should be arraigned under the state’s law in connection with the issue in order not to be like that of Offa Bank robbery saga in the state.
The affected suspects were arrested by men of the state police command at Adewole area of Ilorin penultimate last week and were later paraded at the state police headquarters, Ilorin.
But, at the weekend, the suspects were transferred to Nigeria Police Force headquarters, Abuja, where the police authorities questioned them further on the allegation before they were later paraded by the police in Abuja.
The lawmakers had recently passed a bill into law that prohibited dealings in human parts in any form in the state and which the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has since signed into law.
Speaking at a press conference in Ilorin at the weekend, the chairman, House Committee on Information and Culture, Hon. AbdulRahman AbdulRafiu told journalists that, “Since the suspects were arrested in Ilorin and they should be tried under the state’s law in connection with the issue”.
The lawmaker stated that in spite of the existence of the law, the assembly was surprised over the transfer of the suspects to Abuja for an offence that occurred in the state.
He said the law enacted by the state was sufficient to try the suspects arrested in connection with the sales of human parts.
He explained that the state had “the most adequate legislation on the subject matter in the country”.
He expressed fear that the case, if allowed to be handled in Abuja, may go the way of the Offa bank robbery case that was turned into avenue to witch-hunt perceived opponents or political enemies.
Abdulrafiu however, urged police in Kwara to as matter of urgency publish the names of the suspects arrested in the state in connection with the crime.
He commended security agencies in the state for their effort in exposing perpetrators of criminal activities.
The lawmaker also called on traditional rulers in the state and the public to always render useful information on security matters to law enforcers.
He said this will curb the activities of criminals and rid the state of crimes against humanity.
AbdulRafiu, therefore, urged the police authorities to arraign the suspect before a competent court in the state as prescribed by the state’s law without further delay.
