The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase has said that the murder case of former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige (SAN) who was murdered fourteen years ago can be reopened.
Solomon, who spoke on Monday during a programme, “View from the top,” on Channels Television, said “Some people were charged to court but just as I said before, our investigation was not intelligence-led. So, we tended to situate it within the political complexion of Osun State at that time. And you will also remember that there were a lot of distractions when that investigation started.
“So, it looked as if the attention of the police was diverted from the original cause of the event. I remember we also brought in the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and we wanted to ascertain if the people that we had in custody were the real people.
“So, we administered the polygraph examination but it did not work out. The polygraph test showed that they were not the perpetrators. The scientific aid we were trying to get was not in tandem with the circumstantial evidence that we had gathered. And when you have such issues, the suspect is given the benefit of the doubt. So, they walked away.
“Murder cases don’t have statutes of limitation. Cases can always be reopened as it is done in other countries. Once there is fresh evidence to suggest that the probability of involvement or the criminal responsibility of one of the suspects in that matter is higher, it can always be reopened. You hardly close a criminal investigation that way.”
He also emphasised the importance of employing intelligent people in the police force, he said “We must ensure that those who are brought into the force are intelligent enough and can be easily trained. When your manpower is wrong ab initio, you get everything wrong. So, we have to look at our recruitment policy. We should be able to attract the best people into the force.”
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