A legal practitioner has approached the court, requesting an order to prevent Kayode Egbetokun from continuing as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60 on September 4, 2024.
The lawyer, Opara, also urged the court to declare that once an appointment is terminated by law, it cannot be reinstated through any subsequent legal amendments.
As of now, the court has not scheduled a date to hear the case.
In response, the Nigeria Police Force, through its spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi, issued a statement on Friday, clarifying that President Bola Tinubu has not extended Egbetokun’s tenure. Instead, the President has ensured that the relevant laws governing the office are being applied appropriately.
“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,” the statement read. “We categorically state that President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the IGP is not a tenure extension, but a proper application of the law governing the office of the IGP.”
Adejobi pointed out that contrary to the claims circulating on social media, the IGP’s appointment letter was issued after his confirmation by the Police Council. The letter, dated November 3, 2023, clearly outlined that the President had granted a four-year tenure for the IGP in accordance with Sections 215(a) and 28(c) of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Adejobi further stressed that the IGP has no need to seek a tenure extension, as he is yet to complete the duration specified in his appointment letter.
“The IGP is not lobbying for any extension. His appointment letter guarantees him a four-year tenure, starting from the date of his appointment. The spread of false information is the work of pessimists and troublemakers who seek to tarnish the office and the reputation of the IGP for their own gain,” Adejobi concluded.
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