Ahead of Saturday’s presidential and parliamentary elections, President Mohammed Buhari, yesterday convened the National Security Council (NSC) together with Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba said they are investigating individuals, including the governors who made comments instigating a rebellion against the federal government’s naira redesign policy.
This first meeting of the Council in 2023 had in attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, service chiefs, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
Briefing correspondent, accompanied by Federal Attorney General Abubakar Malami after a meeting chaired by President Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, stated that despite the investigation, they would not prosecute the state governors because they enjoy immunity.
Several governors led by Nasir el-Rufai Governor of Kaduna state had openly denounced the naira swap policy and told citizens to ignore the expiring legality of the old N500 and N1,000 banknotes.
The Police boss on why the governors had not been cautioned, stated;
“We all know why unless you want to hear from the mouth of the Attorney-General. We are investigating. Whoever does anything can be investigated.
There are some people, who have immunity. I think that is one of the reasons they can’t be prosecuted now, but that will not stop us from warning them, from advising them and we are doing so. That’s for the incitement by governors.”
On his part, the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said the meeting was fully briefed by the Chief of Defence Staff, the three service chiefs, the IGP and heads of other security agencies, about their readiness to provide the necessary security back-up for Saturday’s poll.
He said flowing from this, the Council gave a marching order that the February 25 election should hold as planned.
According to him, the Council’s meeting is a follow-up to earlier meetings of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, and the Council of States held last week to affirm the readiness of the electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Police and other security agencies to go ahead with the general elections in the country.
