The Nigeria Police Force has debunked a widely publicised news of the purported dismissal of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Baba Akali, by a Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria.
Police in a statement issued by the Force Public Relation Officer, PPRO, CSP Olumuyiwa Adeojobi, in Abuja, urged Nigerians to disregard the false news making the rounds on social media over the sack of the IGP.
According to Adejobi, the said judgment is subject to appeal and the news is thus false, unfounded, and perceived as the handiwork of mischief makers.
It would be recalled that IGP Alkali was appointed in a letter-number SGF.20/S.6/83 dated 30th Nov 2021 for a 4-year tenure.
Subsequently, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, dismissed a suit that sought to compel the IGP to vacate his office on March 1, 2023. The Court, in the judgment delivered by Justice J. K. Omotosho, held that going by the provision of Section 7 (6) of the Police Act, 2020, anyone appointed as the IGP has a statutorily recognized four-year tenure. It described the IGP’s four-year tenure as sacrosanct, stressing that his retirement as the IGP had nothing to do with age or years of service.
“Consequently, members of the public are on this notice advised to ignore the false news making the rounds on social media. IGP Usman Alkali Baba remains the Inspector-General of Police and is duty-bound to execute the responsibilities of the office in accordance with extant laws.”
