Jostle for new IGP begins over Baba rumoured retirement

Jostle for new IGP begins over Baba rumoured retirement 

High-level lobby has commenced by some top ranking police officers for the job of the number one police officer in the land.

This follows indications that the incumbent Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba, will be leaving the service soon.

Former President, Muhammadu Buhari, had extended Baba’s stay in office mid-February 2023 when he was expected to retire, in line with the Police Act.

A report by Vanguard stated that with the emergence of a new administration, news of the appointment of a new IGP and service chiefs had raised a mixture of hope and fear of forced retirement.

The anxiety is said to be further heightened by rumours that President Tinubu, saddled with the responsibility of appointing an IGP, on the advice of the Police Council, from among serving senior officers of the police, may appoint an Assistant Inspector General of Police from the South East as the next IGP.

There was a declaration recently by Justice Fatun Riman of a Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, that only an officer within the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police and Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG, with four years in service, could be appointed as Inspector General of Police, in accordance with the 2020 Police Act.

The court in its judgement delivered on May 19, 2023, also faulted the continued stay in office by Baba who was appointed when he had less than four years to retire from the force.

The consideration of an AIG or CP, according to Vanguard’s report is based on an indication that none of the six Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIGs, representing the six- geopolitical zones in the Nigeria Police management structure, has the requisite four years of service before retirement, as stipulated by the extant laws.

Also, for the AIGs, Vanguard learned that two of the over 20 have four years and above to retire, either at the age of 60 years or on attaining the mandatory 35 years in service.

One of the AIGs from the South East , is said to have all it takes in terms of operational capabilities, intelligence and requirements of the 2020 Police Service Act to be appointed into the exalted position. The second AIG is from the North.

There are also speculations that the present administration may choose one of the two commissioners of police from the South West and North Central as the next IGP.

Two officers who were recently promoted to the rank of CP also said to meet the four years requirements by the Police Act.

Sources said one of these “preferred officers” is likely to be promoted to the rank of AIG in order to qualify him as stipulated in section 7 of the Police Act.

Section 7 of the Police Act, paragraph 2, says the person to be appointed as IGP shall be a senior police officer not below the rank of an AIG

Section 7, paragraph 6, of the Police Act also states that the person to be appointed to the office of the IGP shall hold office for four years.