Maxwell Opara, an Abuja-based lawyer and human rights activist, has filed a suit against President Bola Tinubu and Mr. Kayode Egbetokun at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Opara is seeking a court order to prevent Egbetokun from continuing to present himself as Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police.
Read Also: Why Ajaero Can’t Leave Nigeria – Ex-DSS Director Makes Fresh Revelations
Opara’s petition requests the court to rule that Egbetokun, having reached the age of 60 on September 4, 2024, is ineligible to remain in office.
Additionally, he is asking the court to affirm that an appointment terminated by law cannot be reinstated retroactively by subsequent amendments.
A hearing date for the case has not yet been set.
Read Also: IGP Takes Fresh Action On Newly Promoted AIGs
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi, the police clarified that President Bola Tinubu did not extend Egbetokun’s tenure.
Instead, the President approved the law governing the tenure of the Inspector General of Police as required.
“The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to various misleading reports and misinterpretations concerning the tenure of the Inspector General of Police, and wishes to categorically state that what President Bola Tinubu approved for the IGP is not an extension of tenure, but rather the proper application of the law governing the tenure of the office of the IGP,” the statement read.
“Contrary to the misinformation being circulated on social media and in the news, an appointment letter in circulation was issued to the IGP shortly after his appointment was confirmed by the Police Council.
“This letter, dated 3rd November 2023, clearly stated that the President had approved a four-year tenure for the IGP in accordance with the provisions of Section 215(a) and Section 28(c) of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
According to Adejobi, the IGP does not need to seek a tenure extension, as he has not yet utilized the full term specified in his appointment letter.
“It is important to emphasize that the IGP does not need to lobby for any tenure extension as his appointment letter explicitly grants him a four-year tenure from the date of his appointment. The ongoing circulation of false information is the handiwork of pessimists and mischief makers who are determined to spread baseless narratives against the office and the personality of the IGP for obvious reasons and pecuniary gains,” he added.
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2Z
