The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, on Thursday said he had opened investigations into a controversial lawsuit challenging the legality of the states’ judicial panels of inquiry investigating allegations against officers of the defunct police special anti-robbery squad.

The development followed widespread outcry against the police for filing the controversial charges, with Nigerians online saying it underscored bad faith negotiations on the part of the police and the Buhari administration at large.

Oyetola Atoyebi, a police lawyer who filed the case, was also set to withdraw it from the courts on Friday, citing its sensitive nature.

The Force Headquarters also queried its legal team, led by Tuesday Assayomo, over the matter, seeking further investigation on why it was filed.

The statement said Assayomo may face more sanctions if found guilty of dereliction of duty.

This statement comes after reports that the police lawyers, led by Oyetola Atoyebi (SAN),

filed a case before the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a bid to stop the judicial panels across all states, describing them as unconstitutional.

The police had argued that states have no powers to hear allegations of wrongdoings against police officers, noting that personnel issues could only be addressed using existing police mechanisms.

In October, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo announced that the 36 states and the capital Abuja will set up judicial panels of inquiry that will hear cases against officers who had been involved in human rights abuses towards bringing justice to victims and their families.