The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has defended the continuous stay of Kayode Egbetokun as Inspector-General of Police (IGP), asserting that his tenure remains lawful.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Fagbemi explained that Egbetokun’s appointment, which commenced on October 31, 2023, is valid for a four-year term.
The AGF referenced the Police Act amendment of 2024, which allows the IGP to serve a four-year term despite having reached the age of 60 years. Civil service rules typically mandate retirement at age 60 or after 35 years of service. However, the amended Police Act overrules this stipulation, permitting the IGP to remain in office until October 31, 2027, completing his four-year tenure.
Fagbemi clarified that Egbetokun’s continued stay in office is entirely consistent with the amended Police Act, which stipulates a four-year term for any IGP appointed after the Act’s passage.
Egbetokun, appointed by President Bola Tinubu on June 19, 2023, and confirmed by the National Police Council on October 31, 2023, was expected to retire upon turning 60 on September 4, 2024. However, following the passage of the amendment in July 2024, which altered the Police Act, Egbetokun’s tenure was extended to allow him to serve his full four years.
The National Assembly passed the bill creating the amendment to allow the IGP to remain in office past the 60-year age limit. Despite the bill’s passage, there has been no official announcement on whether President Tinubu has signed it into law.
In September 2024, as Egbetokun approached 60, calls for his retirement intensified, but reports suggested that Tinubu had approved his continuation in office until 2027.
The ongoing controversy surrounding Egbetokun’s tenure was recently referenced by Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC), who dubbed him an “illegal IGP”. In response, the police filed a 16-count charge against Sowore for allegedly disseminating false information about the IGP.
