Tobias Sylvester
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari to court over tenure elongation for the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu.
KanyiDaily recalls that President Buhari had extended IGP Adamu’s tenure by an additional three months even though his service expired on February 1, 2021, when he clocked the limit of 35 years in service.
In a suit filed before a Lagos High Court, the NBA argued that Adamu’s continuous stay in office is in contravention of the provisions of section 215(1)(a) of the constitution and is, therefore, unlawful.
The association said the president lacks such authority, and also violates the provisions of Sections 7(3) and (6), and 18(8) of the Nigeria Police Act, a law signed by Buhari himself last year.
The lawyers wants the court to set aside the extension and order Adamu to vacate the office and refund all salaries, allowances, and benefits received since February 1.
The NBA is praying the court for the following reliefs:
1) A declaration that the act of the first defendant (the President), in purporting to extend the tenure of the third defendant (Adamu) as the Inspector General of Police after his retirement from the service of the Nigeria Police Force is in contravention of the provisions Section 215(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and therefore, null and void.
1) A declaration that the act of the first defendant in purporting to extend the tenure of the third defendant as the Inspector General of Police after his retirement from the service of the Nigeria Police Force is in contravention of the provisions of Sections 7(3) & (6) and 18(8) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020, and is therefore unlawful, null and void.
3) A declaration that the 1st defendant lacks the authority, vires and power to extend the tenure of the occupant/holder of the office of the inspector General of Police.
An order setting aside the purported elongation of the tenure of the third defendant as the Inspector General of Police of Nigeria.
4) An order directing the third defendant to vacate forthwith the office of the Inspector General of Police and refund all salaries, allowances and benefits received from February 1, 2020 (when he retired from the Police Force) to the coffers of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
5) An order of perpetual injunction restraining the first defendant either by himself and/or acting through any of his ministers, officers, servants and/or under any guise from the further breach of the provisions of Section 215({) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended, by extending the tenure of the occupant of the office of the Inspector General of Police of Nigeria.
KanyiDaily recalls that Ekiti State Government had also dragged the IGP Adamu to court over the dismissal of a policewoman resident in the state, Omolola Olajide, for being pregnant out of wedlock.
