IGP’s 4-yr Tenure In Line With Extant Laws — NPF

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has said the four-year tenure of an inspector–general of police (IGP) was not a recent development.

While reacting to reports concerning the tenure of the inspector-general of police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, the Force PRO, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement, said the four-year tenure of the IGP was in line with extant legal provisions of the law.

He said the IGP does not need to lobby for extension of tenure as he has been issued with a letter confirming his full four-year tenure as IGP.

Part of the Force PRO’s statement noted that, “the attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to various misleading reports and misinterpretations concerning the tenure of the inspector general of police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun and wishes to categorically state that what His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, approved for the IGP is not an extension of tenure, but rather the proper application of the law governing the tenure of the office of the IGP.

“Contrary to the misinformation being circulated on social media and in the news, an appointment letter in circulation was issued to the IGP shortly after his appointment was confirmed by the Police Council. This letter, dated November 3, 2023, clearly stated that the president had approved a four-year tenure for the IGP in accordance with the provisions of Section 215(a) and Section 28(c) of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

“It is important to emphasize that the IGP does not need to lobby for any tenure extension as his appointment letter explicitly grants him a four-year tenure from the date of his appointment.

“The ongoing circulation of false information is clearly the handiwork of pessimists and mischief makers who are determined to spread baseless narratives against the office and the personality of the IGP for obvious reasons and pecuniary gains.

“Furthermore, the IGP has since been issued with another letter in accordance with the provisions of the Police Act, 2020 (as amended), which supersedes the earlier correspondence. This clarification is necessary to put an end to the speculations and falsehoods being spread.”