The senate committee on public account has questioned the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over the alleged missing of 3,907 rifles from its armoury.
The missing firearms are contained in the 2019 audit report of the office of the auditor-general of the federation (AuGF).
During the committee’s sitting on Tuesday, , the inspector-general of police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun nominated Suleiman Abdul, an assistant inspector-general (AIG), to respond to questions from the senators about the report of the missing firearms.
The senators asked the police to account for the missing firearms and other issues raised in the AuGF report.
But the explanation given by the representative of the police was not satisfactory to the senators.
Abdul sought an executive session, which was rejected by the majority of the lawmakers.
Deputy chairman of the committee, Peter Nwaebonyi, said the sitting would not be held behind closed doors.
“This is a public accounts committee that has no room for closed-door sessions. In the United States of America, proceedings of the public accounts committee are televised live,” the lawmaker said.
“So, whatever response the AIG wants to make on the missing assault rifles should be done in the full glare of all, particularly the journalists.”
Senator representing Edo north, Adams Oshiomhole, said the police are known for arresting and parading suspects in public and should also account for the missing firearms.
“The AIG should let Nigerians know the steps that had been taken by the police on the missing assault rifles over the years, who and who were involved and level of recovery made,” Oshiomhole said.
After hours of debate, the committee asked the leadership of the police to show up on Monday for the continuation of the probe.
