The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari before a Federal High Court in Lagos over the tenure extension of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu.
In a suit filed by the Public Interest Litigation Committee of the NBA on Thursday, the association said it is seeking an order “setting aside the purported elongation of the tenure” of the IGP
According to the NBA, Adamu’s continuous stay in office is in contravention of the provisions of section 215(1)(a) of the 1999 constitution, as amended.
“An order directing the 3rd Defendant to vacate forthwith the office of the Inspector General of Police and refund all salaries, allowances and benefits received from February 1, 2021, (when he retired from the Police Force) to the coffers of the Federal Government of Nigeria”, the suit read.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st Defendant either by himself and/or acting through any of his Ministers, officers, servants and/or under any guise further breach the provision of Section 215(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended by extending the tenure of the occupant of the office of the Inspector General of Police of Nigeria.”
Reacting, NBA president, Olumide Akpata, said the suit was filed in line with the association’s motto of promoting the rule of law.
He added that the association will continue to condemn and confront lawlessness from all quarters.
“The NBA’s decision to take this extraordinary line of action is underpinned by an urgent need, and a sacred duty, to reassert the supremacy of the rule of law in the face of growing impunity and the seeming reluctance of law officers in government to give proper counsel,” he said.
“The NBA’s position in the suit is that Mr Adamu ceased to be a member of the Nigeria Police Force when he attained the milestone of thirty-five years of service. Therefore, the President’s extension of Mr Adamu’s tenure by three months, in the NBA’s respectful view, is unconstitutional.”
Mixed reactions have trailed the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the tenure of Adamu after attaining the mandatory 35 years in service.