ABUJA — THE police yesterday disowned the “final police investigation” on the Ibori case, published in some newspapers, saying they “are not certified true copies.”
In a statement in Abuja, Police spokesman, Mr Chris Olakpe said the duly certified final investigation report would be made public at the appropriate time. His words:
“The attention of the Police High Command has been drawn to published comments on the final police investigation report on the Ibori case presently before a high court in Abuja; to the effect that the report contained the insignia of CFR as at 7th June, 2003 when the report was signed. Again that 7th June 2003 was a Saturday and accordingly the report could not have been signed on a Saturday which seemingly was a non-working day to some of the commentators.
“Ordinarily, the force would not have reacted to these insinuations and innuendoes but for the advertorial comments of Chief (Dr.) E.K. Clark, OFR, a “respected octogenarian statesman”, where these issues were again embellished.
“Since none of the two reports are in court, we do not know the sources of those purported reports. Any Police document confirmed to be so, will be certified to be true copy. In this case, the documents on pages of newspapers are not certified true copies. At the right time, the final investigation report duly certified as so, will be made available to the appropriate quarters.
“Furthermore, the Nigeria Police as an organisation writes and signs reports on Saturdays and Sundays as the need arises. Police operations does not lend itself to the normal procedural working hours of the civil service or other parastatals.
“Finally, it is hoped that this clarification will put an end to the speculations and conjecture regarding these issues.”