An Abuja-based lawyer, Maxwell Okpara, has dragged the Federal Government before a High Court in Abuja, to challenge the alleged tenure elongation of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Opara, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/342/2024, dated September 9 and obtained by our correspondent on Friday, sued Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Police Council, President Bola Tinubu, and the Federal Civil Service Commission as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.
Egbetokun who was born September 4, 1964, clocked the mandatory retirement age of 60 this year according to the Public Service rule and is expected to have left office.
He was appointed IGP in July 2023 and a few days before his 60th birthday, it was speculated that President Tinubu had extended his tenure.
The Force spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi, however, debunked the speculations. He explained that what the President approved for the IGP was not an extension of tenure but rather, the proper application of the law governing the tenure of the office of the IGP.
Opara, however in a suit supported with an 18-paragraph affidavit filed by one Pastor Nnenna Opara on his behalf, challenged the legality or otherwise of the alleged tenure elongation granted the IGP under the amended Police Act.
Opara in the suit declared that the IGP cannot remain in office upon reaching the age of 60 on the 4th of September 2024, given that he is compulsorily retired as envisaged by the public service rules.
Opara contended that as stated in Section 9 of Chapter 2 of the Public Service Rules 2023, the age for compulsory retirement of Egbetokun as a public servant is upon attaining the age of 60 or having served 35 years of pensionable service whichever is earlier.
The lawyer asked the court to issue an order of Injunction restraining the IGP from acting by himself or through his agents and servants, from continuing to hold out, present, and or parade himself as the Inspector General of Police of the Nigeria Police Force.