A Federal High Court sitting in Awka, has declared that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali, is an illegal occupant of the office he is presently holding.
The court made the order in its judgment in a suit, filed by Okechukwu Nwafor, a tax payer. The presiding judge, Justice Fatun Riman, declared Alkali’s appointment and continued stay in office as “unlawful and unconstitutional”.
The court also ordered Alkali Baba to stop parading himself as the Inspector-General of Police. Justice Riman further held that only an officer within the listed rank, with four (4) years in service, can be appointed as IGP, not one with less than four years.
The court further ordered the President to convene a meeting of the Nigeria Police Council to appoint a new Inspector General of Police who will hold office for four years.
Defendants in the suit are the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Usman Alkali Baba, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and Nigeria Police Council.
Also granted by Justice Riman was a declaration that the President has no power, whatsoever, to extend the condition for retirement of a Police officer, as contained in Section 18 (8) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020.
Justice Riman observed that the IGP being a public servant, and by virtue of the fact that he is a member of staff of the Nigeria Police Force, an authority established from the Federation by Section 214 (1) of the Constitution and in subject of the Federal Public Rules 299 (PSR) thereof, which provides for the compulsory retirement of all grades of public service officers at the age of 60 or 35 years of service, whichever comes first.
