Friday January 31, 2025 | TheNewsDESK
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AGF, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has justified the continued stay in office of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, as lawful and legal.
The AGF, in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen Thursday night, noted that Egbetokun’s appointment, which took effect on October 31, 2023, would have come to an end on his attainment of 60 years of age on September 4, 2024.
He, however, disclosed that before Egbetokun’s retirement age, the Police Act was amended to allow the occupant of the office to remain and complete the original four-year term granted under Section 7 (6) of the Act, notwithstanding the fact that he has attained the age of 60 years.
“This has, therefore, statutorily extended the tenure of office of Egbetokun to and including the 31st day of October, 2027, in order to complete the four-year tenure granted to him.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Egbetokun’s continuous stay in office is in line with the provisions of the Police Act amended in 2024, which allow the occupant of the office to enjoy a term of four years effective from the date of his appointment as IGP, in this case, 31st day of October 2023.
“This advisory is necessary for the guidance of the general public,” the statement further read.
It will be recalled that an Abuja-based lawyer, Mr. Maxwell Opara, had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the continued stay in office of the IGP.
On the heels of the legal action, police arraigned former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Mr. Omoyele Sowore before the high court for calling Egbetokun an “illegal” IGP.
|VANGUARD|
