I CAN REMAIN IN OFFICE TILL 2023 OR 2024- IGP ADAMU MUHAMMED

Current Inspector-General of police Mohammed Adamu has faulted argument that his retention in office was unlawful having attained the maximum 35 years in service on February 1.

Adamu argued further that the new Nigeria Police Act gave him a four-year tenure which would only lapse either in 2023 or 2024.

He insisted that his tenure will lapse in 2023 if counted from 2019 when he was appointed as the IGP, or 2024, if counted from 2020 when the new Nigeria Police Act came into force.

His position is contained in the counter-affidavit and notice of objection he filed against a suit by a lawyer, Maxwell Opara before the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging Adamu’s continued stay in office beyond February 1.

In the documents filed by his lawyer, Alex Iziyon (SAN), Adamu contended that the office of the IGP is not governed by the general provisions applicable to the rest of the police force.

He argued that the effect of Section 7(6) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020 “is that immediately a person is appointed into the office of the Inspector-General of Police, a new legal regime is triggered off.”The IG stated that, from the various provisions of the law, it was “discernible” that “the office of the Inspector-General of Police is conferred with a special status, unique and distinct from other officers of the Nigeria Police force.”

Adamu disclosed that the IG, upon appointment, “is only accountable to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Council and this fact makes his office a quasi-political office with a tenure of four (4) years pursuant to Section 7(6) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020.”