By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The three months President Muhammdu Buhari extended the tenure of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, contravenes Nigeria’s constitution, says executive director of the Rule of Law Advocacy, Accountability Centre (RULAAC), Okechukwu Nwanguma.
President Buhari extended the tenure of the IGP by three months against the provisions of the Police Act which stipulates that a policeman cannot remain in the force beyond 35 in service. IGP Adamu has already exceeded 35 years in service after February 1, which is the anniversary of his 35th service in the police force.
Nwanguma said in a statement that President Buhari should learn to lead by example and not engage in any action that violates the constitution or other laws he’s sworn to defend.
“It is not good for our democracy for the President to violate the law or exercise powers not granted him by law. The retirement date for IGP Adamu was known long before the day came when he attained 35 years in service. It didn’t come suddenly. The President ought to have convened the Police Council to discuss the appointment of a new IGP to take over from Adamu.
“For the President to now turn around to claim that he needed time to go through the process of selecting a new IGP is preposterous. It’s a pretext to evade responsibility. It further underscores his contempt for public opinion.
“The public service rule is clear on the tenure of service of any public servant. The Police Act which the President signed in 2020 grants the IGP a one term tenure of four years. Neither of the laws grants the President the power to extend the tenure of a retired IGP. The President acted illegally and unconstitutionally. He must reverse himself.
“The best he could have done under the circumstance was to direct the retired IGP Adamu to hand over to the most senior DIG pending when the Police Council would wake up from slumber and discharge its constitutional duties. And it’s not late for the President to reverse himself on this clear illegality,” Nwanguma said.
Nwanguma said the President’s action was clear illegality because the IGP had attained 35 years in service on February 1, 2021, and was deemed to have retired from service on that date.
He said both the public service rule and the Police Act 2020 stipulate that he must go. He wondered where the President derived the power to extend the tenure of a retired IGP.
He warned Buhari against acting in a manner that conflicts with the law.