Prince Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has confirmed that Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun’s ongoing employment is lawful, even though he has reached the necessary retirement age of 60.
Fagbemi confirmed in a statement he signed and made public, that Egbetokun’s tenure is still legal in accordance with the recently modified Police Act, which permits an Inspector General of Police to serve a full four-year term regardless of retirement age.
The term of Egbetokun’s appointment, which began on October 31, 2023, would have typically ended on September 4, 2024, when he turned 60.
“However, the Police Act was amended prior to his retirement age to permit the office holder to stay and finish the initial four-year term granted under Section 7(6) of the Act, even though he has reached the age of 60,” Fagbemi said.
According to the AGF, the statutory extension guarantees that Egbetokun will serve until October 31, 2027, in accordance with the law’s four-year term requirement.
“Just to be clear, Egbetokun’s continued tenure in office is consistent with the 2024 amendment to the Police Act, which permits the office holder to hold the position for a four-year term beginning on the date of his appointment as IGP, in this case October 31, 2023,” he emphasized.
Fagbemi asked the public to reject any misunderstandings about the IGP’s term and to be directed appropriately.After legally reaching the necessary retirement age of 60 on September 4th, Egbetokun’s continued tenure in office has generated a great deal of controversy.
His prolonged tenure in office has been characterized by some detractors as unlawful.
Maxwell Okpara, a lawyer from Abuja, is one of the opponents who has challenged the Federal Government’s decision to extend the Inspector General of Police’s term in an Abuja High Court.
Okpara argued that Egbetokun, who was born on September 4, 1964, should have left office by 2024 as he had met the Public Service Rules’ statutory retirement age of 60.
Omoyele Sowore, a human rights advocate and former presidential contender, was also detained and accused of cybercrimes when he called Egbetokun’s prolonged tenure in office unlawful.
Meanwhile Omoyele Sowore has been granted conditional bail by the court.