NBA Sues Buhari Over Extension of IGP’s Tenure
By Rahma Ahmed
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has filed a suit to challenge the extension of the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Adamu, by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The NBA in a statement on Friday signed by its President, Mr Olumide Akpata, said it is seeking a judicial determination of the constitutionality of the President’s extension of Mr Adamu’s tenure as the Inspector-General of Police for three months after the police chief had on February 1, 2021, attained 35 years of service as a member of the Nigeria Police Force.
The suit with number FHC/L/CS/214/2021 was filed against the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Police Service Commission, and Mr Mohammed Abubakar Adamu.
In the association’s view, the three months extension of the IGP’s tenure by the president is unconstitutional.
“In fidelity to the motto of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) which is Promoting the Rule of Law, on Thursday, February 11, 2021, the NBA-Public Interest Litigation Committee (NBA-PILC), on behalf of the NBA, commenced legal action at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/214/2021 against the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Police Service Commission, and Mr Mohammed Abubakar Adamu.
“In the suit, the NBA seeks a judicial determination of the constitutionality of the President’s extension of Mr Adamu’s tenure as the Inspector-General of Police for three months after Mr Adamu had, on February 1, 2021, attained thirty-five years of service as a member of the Nigeria Police Force.
“The NBA’s decision to take this extraordinary line of action is underpinned by an urgent need, and a sacred duty, to reassert the supremacy of the rule of law in the face of growing impunity and the seeming reluctance of Law Officers in Government to give proper counsel.
“The NBA’s position in the Suit is that Mr Adamu ceased to be a member of the Nigeria Police Force when he attained the milestone of thirty-five years of service. Therefore, the President’s extension of Mr Adamu’s tenure by three months, in the NBA’s respectful view, is unconstitutional,” the statement said.
The statement further stated that as leaders are to lead by example such action by the president would encourage citizens to violate the law.
“In the grand scheme of things, the NBA is wary that the more government officials casually violate the law, the harder it would become to expect citizens to be compliant.
“Citizens take their cues from their leaders and public office holders who flout the laws of the country that they are meant to uphold will discover sooner or later that their examples will be followed by those that they purport to govern.
“The ubiquity of acts of impunity, especially by those in high public offices, portends an existential threat to the survival of this country and her hard-won democracy,” it read.
The association said it’s now firmly committed more than ever to changing this narrative, adding that as the outcome of the suit is awaited, it will continue to condemn and confront lawlessness in any form and from all quarters.
