6th September, 2024
The Nigeria Police Force has responded to misleading reports about the tenure of Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, clarifying that President Bola Tinubu’s approval pertains to the lawful application of the IGP’s term, not an extension.
Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi in a statement on Friday, emphasized that the President granted the IGP a four-year tenure, as outlined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
He said this was conveyed through an official letter dated November 3, 2023, shortly after the Police Council confirmed the IGP’s appointment.
Adejobi debunked rumours of Egbetokun lobbying for a tenure extension, stressing that the IGP’s appointment letter already guaranteed a full four-year term.
“The IGP does not need to lobby for any tenure extension,” Adejobi stated, describing the circulating misinformation as the work of “pessimists and mischief makers” intent on spreading baseless narratives for personal gain.
He also noted that a new letter, issued in compliance with the Police Act, 2020 (as amended), further solidified the IGP’s tenure and supersedes any earlier correspondence.
Adejobi urged the public to disregard the false reports and trust that Egbetokun’s term is in line with the governing laws of the Nigeria Police Force.
“The IGP’s tenure is not subject to unnecessary debate and should not distract the policing system in Nigeria. The law is sacrosanct,” Adejobi stated.
