POLICE ACT: IGP MISSES 4-YEAR TENURE, RETIRES JANUARY

 There are indications that the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, may not benefit from the provisions of the Nigeria Police Act 2020, assented by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, last week.

The new law prescribed among others, a four-year single tenure for the office of the Inspector-General of Police.

But Adamu, who is the 20th indigenous police boss, is expected to retire in January 2021 when he would clock 35 years in service.

According to a Wikipedia, the 59-year-old was born on September 17, 1961, and enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force in 1986, after graduating from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, with a bachelor’s degree in Geography.

Sources said Adamu, who was appointed in January 2019, would not benefit from the new law on account of age, having clocked the mandatory 35 years in service.

It was learnt that the fixed four-year single tenure would commence with the next IG who may be appointed by the President in February.

According to the new law, the person to be appointed as IG shall be a senior police officer not below the rank of an Assistant Inspector-General of Police with not less than a first degree or its equivalent in addition to professional and management experience.

Part III, section 4 read, “The IG shall not be removed from office except for gross misconduct, a gross violation of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or demonstrated incapacity to effectively discharge the duties of the office.

“The IG shall only be removed from office by the President on the advice of the Police Council. The person appointed to the office of the IG shall hold office for four years subject to the provision of clause 18(8) of the bill,” section 5 stipulated.

The law also resolved the controversy surrounding the recruitment of police constables, noting that the exercise will be handled by the police recruitment committee which shall consist of the IG as the chairman, all the serving DIGs, the Force Secretary and others.

When contacted for comment on the provisions of the law relating to constables recruitment, the Commissioner in charge of Media, Police Service Commission, Mr Austin Braimo, said, “I can’t comment until after our meeting where we would discuss the provisions of the law,” he said.

By Adelani Adepegba