President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday extended the tenure of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Adamu Mohammed for three months.
This development was disclosed on Thursday afternoon by the Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi while briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He noted that the extension of the IGP’s tenure by the president is to allow enough time to select a new police boss.
But Naija News gathered that the appointment runs contrary to the provisions of the Police Act 2020.
The Police Act 2020 in Section 7 (6) fixes a single term of four years without an option of extension of tenure for the holder of the office of the Inspector-General of Police.
“A person appointed to the office of the Inspector-General of Police shall hold office for four years,” it read.
Section 18 (8) of the Act signed by the President on September 15, 2020 also read, “Every police officer shall, on recruitment or appointment, serve in the police force for 35 years or until he attains the age of 60 years, whichever is earlier.”
This online newspaper reports that Adamu was expected to leave the office on Monday 1st February 2021, having completed his 35 years maximum stay in service. The police boss enlisted on February 2, 1986.