Mohammed Adamu: Buhari dragged to court over appointment of new IGP

An Abuja-based lawyer, Maxwell Opara, has filed a suit asking a Federal High Court to stop Mohammed Adamu from further parading himself as the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

The plaintiff also sought an order of court mandating President Buhari and the Police Council to immediately appoint a new Inspector-General of Police in line with the provisions of section 7, of the Nigeria Police Act.

IDOMA VOICE reports that IGP Adamu, who joined the service on February 1, 1986, attained the mandatory retirement age of 35 years in service, and was due for retirement on Monday, but President Buhari is yet to name his successor or take any action as regard the IGP office.

plaintiff listed President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Police Council are as defendants in the originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/106/2021.

Opara told the court that Adamu’s continuous stay in office is a breach of the provisions of the constitution and the Nigeria Police Act.

Other reliefs sought by the plaintiff are a ‘declaration that by the combined effect of the provisions of section 215 and 216 of the 1999 constitution and section 7 of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, the 2nd defendant (Adamu) cannot lawfully continue to function as the Inspector-General of Police not being a serving member of the Nigeria Police Force as from midnight of February 1, 2021, and therefore all actions taking thereafter are illegal, null and void and constitute a breach of the constitution and the Police Act.

‘A declaration that the failure of the 1st (Buhari) and the 4th (Police Council) defendants to appoint an Inspector-General of Police as at February 1, 2021, constitutes an abdication of their duties under section 215 of the 1999 constitution and section 7 of the Police Act.’