The Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA) called on President Bola Tinubu to Inspector General of Police (IGP)Kayode Egbetokun, was dismissed from office after reaching retirement age.

The group’s Managing Director, Buna Balogun, made the call while addressing journalists at the International Press Centre in Ogba, Lagos on Friday.

According to the National Pension Commission (NPC), the mandatory retirement age for all ranks is 60 years or 35 years of service for retirement.

The IGP was born on September 4, 1964 and is expected to retire in September when he turns 60.

retirement

Mr Balogun said the President had the sole right to appoint and remove the IGP.

“Mr Kayode Egbetokun has been appointed Inspector General of Police in 2023. He shall hold that office until his retirement after 35 years of service or attaining the age of 60.

“According to Mr Kayode Egbetokun’s official records, he will retire in September 2024 when he attains the age of 60, since he was born on September 4, 1964,” Mr Balogun said.

The Director said that in accordance with the provisions of Section 215(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr Egbetokun should have commenced his retirement leave and handed over his post to another credible official to act as acting director before a successor is appointed.

The invoice

Meanwhile, the National Assembly on Tuesday passed the Police Act Amendment Bill 2020, which enables the IGP to continue in office until the end of the term specified in the letter of appointment.

Mr. Egbetokun was appointed IGP in June 2023.

The bill has passed the second and third readings in the House of Lords and the House of Commons and is expected to be signed by the President.

Mr Balogun described the move by the lawmakers to amend the law to guarantee the tenure of the IGP without public hearing as “overzealousness” to accommodate “the ‘sit tightism’ of Mr Kayode Egbetokun, who is in office despite attaining the mandatory age of 60.”

He further pointed out that it was a violation of the law to abuse the Constitution to protect an individual’s interest in remaining in office.

The group called on the president not to sign the bill.

“The best decision for Mr President under the circumstances is to withhold his assent to the Police Amendment Bill 2020 passed by the National Assembly as it is self-serving and unpatriotic,” Mr Balogun said.

Lekan Alabi, the group’s legal adviser, pointed out that an official letter had been sent to the president “regarding this impending heresy.”

Mr Alabi implored the President not to assent to the bill, adding that there were other “outstanding officials” who could succeed the IGP.

“We will fight this to the logical end on behalf of Nigerians. We need a new police leadership that is ready to work in the interest of the people. The police should follow due process. It is time to retire from the service. Let others try,” he said.