The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Alkali Usman, told a Federal High Court in Abuja the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has no pending criminal matter with the Police.
Usman also told the court that Tinubu had no pending petition and was not a suspect to the Nigeria Police, hence, could not be put on trial.
The explanation was part of the contents of an affidavit filed at the court by his counsel, Mr Wisdom Madaki.
Madaki filed the affidavit in response to a suit instituted by a civil rights group seeking an order of mandamus to compel the police to arrest and prosecute Tinubu for perjury and certificate forgery.
The police chief maintained that the police could not prosecute Tinubu without any known offence committed.
The police explained that the two petitions it had against Tinubu were on allegations that had been adjudicated upon by the Supreme Court in 2002 in a suit filed by the late human rights activist, Gani Fawehinmi.
The affidavit averred that since the alleged perjury and certificate forgery had been resolved by the apex court, there was no need for the police to reopen the matter.
The IGP said that the police did not need any court order to make arrests and prosecute since it derived its powers from the constitution and statutes.
He prayed the court to dismiss the suit brought against him and the Nigeria Police Force for want of merit and jurisdiction.
