By Adewole Kehinde
After my article titled “IGP’s Tenure And Section 7(6) Of The Police Act 2020,” https://swiftreporters.com/igps-tenure-and-section-7-6-of-the-police-act-2020/, my attention was drawn to a publication titled “Court orders Alkali to stop parading himself as IGP, faults extension of tenure,” this evening.
I want to remind Justice F.O. Riman of the Federal High Court in Awka that delivered such a judgement about the Federal High Court, Abuja judgement in the same matter.
On February 21, 2023, Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja dismissed a suit seeking the sack of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Alkali Baba Usman.
The suit was instituted against President Muhammadu Buhari and four others by an Abuja activist, Michael Sam Idoko.
In his judgement, Justice Omotoso invoked Section 7(6) of the Police Act 2020, which puts the tenure of office of any Inspector General of Police at four years.
The judge held that the retirement of Alkali Baba Usman from the Nigeria Police Force has nothing to do with his appointment on the ground that the four-year tenure is sacrosanct.
Besides, Justice Omotoso said that the plaintiff, who claimed to be a social crusader, had no jurisdiction to institute the case under the guise of public interest.
Justice Omotoso described the plaintiff as a busybody and meddlesome interloper, adding that he was not a serving police officer qualified for appointment or ever applied for the IGP’s position and denied that he has no legal law by filing the suit.
So I wondered where Okechukwu Nwafor (the plaintiff) got his jurisdiction from that warrant. Justice F.O. Riman of the Federal High Court Awka delivered a judgement in favour of the plaintiff with respect to the reliefs, among others, to declare the extension of the retirement age of IGP Alkali Baba as illegal.
IGP Baba’s stay in office to date is based on Section 7(6) of the Police Act 2020, which puts the tenure of office of any IGP at four years.
The retirement of Alkali Baba Usman from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has nothing to do with his appointment on the ground that the four-year tenure is sacrosanct.
Adewole Kehinde is the publisher of Swift Reporters and can be reached via 08166240846, kennyadewole@gmail.com
