VANGUARD
By Evelyn Usman
THERE is uneasy calm in the Nigeria Police Force, following the recent declaration by Justice Fatun Riman of a Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State , that only an officer within the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police and Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG, with four years in service, could be appointed as Inspector General of Police , in accordance with the 2020 Police Act.
The court in its judgement delivered on May 19,2023, also faulted the continued stay in office by the present Inspector-General of Police, IGP Alkali Baba, who was appointed when he had less than four years to retire from the Nigeria Police Force.
But the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, extended Baba’s stay in office mid February 2023 when he was expected to retire, in line with the Police Act.
With the emergence of a new administration, news of the appointment of a new IGP and service chiefs in the Police force and the military has raised a mixture of hope, fear of forced retirement and uncertainty.
The anxiety is said to be further heightened by rumours that President Tinubu, saddled with the responsibility of appointing an IGP, on the advice of the Police Council, from among serving senior officers of the Police Force, may appoint an Assistant Inspector General of Police from the South East as the next IGP.
Reality on ground
But Vanguard gathered that none of the six Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIGs, representing the six- geopolitical zones in the Nigeria Police management structure, has the requisite four years of service before retirement, as stipulated by the extant laws.
Also, for the AIGs, Vanguard learned that two of the over 20 have four years and above to retire, either at the age of 60 years or on attaining the mandatory 35 years in service.
One of the AIGs from the South East , is said to have all it takes in terms of operational capabilities, intelligence and requirements of the 2020 Police Service Act to be appointed into the exalted position. The second AIG is from the North.
