Opposition Parties Sue Buhari Over IGP’s Tenure
LAGOS DECEMBER 30TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Opposition political parties under the aegis of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), have dragged President Muhammadu Buhari, the Police Service Commission, and the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, before a Federal High Court in Abuja to stop alleged plot by the president to extend the tenure of the IG that expires in January 2019.
The parties are complaining that the extension would place the outgoing police boss in a position to be used by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to unduly influence the 2019 presidential election.
In a statement by CUPP spokesperson, Mr. Ikenga Ugochinyere, the plaintiff said the legal action is to ensure that the constitution is not violated and that a partisan IG, whose membership of the Police Force will expire on January 15, 2019 after reaching the mandatorily 60 years retirement age, is not allowed to remain in office to avoid endangering the electoral process, democracy and the lives of our citizens.
According to Ugochinyere, “This opposition’s legal offensive, which was filed at a Federal High Court Abuja few days ago with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1570/2018 and instituted by the National Chairman of Action Peoples Party (APP) and spokesperson of the opposition coalition, CUPP on behalf of the CUPP, is seeking the court’s interpretation.
“Such interpretation is on whether by the combined provisions of Section 215(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that the appointment of a new IGP shall be made from among serving officers and the provisions of Rule 020810 of the Public Service Rules, which places the cap for retirement at 60 years or 35 years of service, whichever comes first, IG Idris, who was born on 15 January, 1959 and who by 15 January 2019 will turn 60 (retirement age) and consequently cease to be a police officer, can be reappointed as IG in violation of the constitutional provision, which clearly stipulates that only serving police officers are to be appointed.
“It is based on the above, that the suit is seeking a court declaration that IG Idris is not eligible to remain in office after 15 January, 2019 having attained the retirement age of 60.
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Posted by News Rangers
on Dec 30 2018. Filed under National.
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