Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, defended Kayode Egbetokun’s continued tenure as Inspector General of Police on Thursday, stating that it is legitimate.
The Minister of Justice, Fagbemi, revealed this in a signed statement.
According to him, Egbetokun’s appointment, which began on October 31, 2023, would have ended on September 4, 2024, when he turned 60.
“But even though he is now 60, the Police Act was changed before his retirement age to permit the office holder to stay and serve the initial four-year term allotted under Section 7(6) of the Act.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Egbetokun’s continuous tenure in office is under the provisions of the Police Act amended in 2024, which allow the occupant of the office to enjoy a term of four years effective from the date of his appointment as IGP, in this case, October 31, 2023.
“As a result, this has statutorily extended Egbetokun’s tenure of office to and including October 31, 2027, to complete the four-year tenure granted to him.”
Police react to Sowore’s stance that Egbetokun is ‘illegal IGP’
THE Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has refuted claim by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore alleging that the inspector-general of police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, continued stay in office is illegal.
The NPF described the claim as “baseless and misleading.”
Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 election, has maintained that the tenure of the IGP is illegal.
President Bola Tinubu appointed Egbetokun as acting IGP’ in October 2023, pending his confirmation by the National Assembly.
The appointment took effect on 31st of the same month.
Egbetokun should have left office on September 4, 2024, the day he clocked 60.
Rather than allow him to go, ICIR reports the Tinubu-led Federal Government pushed a bill for the amendment of the Police Act, which consequently paved the way for the IGP’ to remain in office for four uninterrupted years, meaning he will quit office in October 2027.
Many citizens who opposed this speedy amendment of the Police Act by the National Assembly claimed the move was to aid Tinubu, who is likely to seek a second term and use Egbetokun and the entire police to his advantage in the 2027 presidential poll, before Egbetokun’s tenure will elapse.
The ICIR reports that Egbetokun was Tinubu’s chief security officer when he was Lagos State Governor in 1999.
He was promoted as deputy inspector-general of police shortly after Tinubu’ won the February 25, 2023 presidential election, with many Nigerians suspecting he could be the next IGP’ because of his closeness to Tinubu.
Given Sowore stance on the IGP, he was formally charged by the police for alleged cyberstalking and false publication against the IGP on Tuesday, January 28.
The charges, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja and shared by Sowore’s handle on X showed that the lawsuit stemmed from Sowore’s posts on X, where he was said to have referred to Egbetokun as an “illegal IGP.”
However, in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, the NPF said Sowore’s claim was unfounded and sought to undermine the legitimacy of the IGP’s appointment as well as public confidence in the police.
It referred to Part III, Section 7 (6) of the amended Police Act, 2020 which states, “The person appointed to the office of the inspector-general of police shall hold office for four years.”
This is against the previous law which mandated the IGP’ to retire immediately he clocked 60 years or had served for 35 years.
The police said Egbetokun’s tenure was ratified by the Police Council, and he had received the requisite confirmation letter from the presidency, validating his tenure from October 31, 2023, to October 31, 2027.”
It added, “In line with the provisions of Section 8A of the executive bill passed, which amended the Police Act, clearly stating that “Any person appointed to the office of inspector-general of police shall remain in office until the end of term stipulated in the letter of appointment in line with the provisions of Section 7(6) of this Act.”
According to the police, this amendment aims to provide stability and continuity in the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force, enabling the IGP to implement long-term plans and policies without fear of abrupt termination.
“It is crucial for members of the public to be aware that IGP Egbetokun’s status as the 22nd indigenous inspector-general of police is both legally and procedurally sound,” the NPF stated.
Part III, Section 7 (6) of the Act, which repealed the Police Act Cap. P19, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, prescribed a four-year single tenure for a person appointed to the office of the IG subject to the provisions of clause 18(8).
Section 18(8A) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020 was amended as follows: “Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (8) of this section, any person appointed to the office of Inspector-General of Police shall remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment in line with the provisions of Section 7(6) of this Act.”
The amendment implies that once a police officer is appointed as inspector general, they must serve a four-year term, regardless of their age or years of service
Some human rights activists like Sowore have, however, kicked against Egbetokun enjoying the new term limit.
Newscentral/ICIR