The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has debunked rumours surrounding the tenure extension of the Inspector General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.
News About Nigeria reports that in a statement, the force clarified that President Bola Tinubu did not grant an extension to the IGP’s tenure but rather allowed the relevant law to take its course.
The statement was issued by Olumuyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, on Friday.
This clarification comes after speculation swirled about the IGP’s tenure, with some reports suggesting an extension had been granted.
However, the Police Force has now set the record straight, adding that the law governing the IGP’s office was correctly applied and no special extension was given.
“The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to various misleading reports and misinterpretations concerning the tenure of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, and wishes to categorically state that what His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, approved for the IGP is not an extension of tenure, but rather the proper application of the law governing the tenure of the office of the IGP,” the statement reads.
“Contrary to false reports circulating on social media and in the news, an appointment letter issued to the IGP shortly after his appointment was confirmed by the Police Council clearly stated that the President had approved a four-year tenure for the IGP in accordance with the Constitution.
“It is important to emphasise that the IGP does not need to lobby for any tenure extension, as his appointment letter explicitly grants him a four-year tenure from the date of his appointment.”
“The ongoing spread of false information is clearly the work of pessimists and mischief makers seeking to spread baseless narratives against the office and personality of the IGP for personal gain.
“Furthermore, the IGP has since been issued with another letter in accordance with the Police Act, 2020 (as amended), which supersedes the earlier correspondence.
“This clarification is necessary to put an end to the speculations and falsehoods being spread.
“We urge the public to disregard the unfounded reports and to trust that the tenure of the IGP is in full compliance with the laws governing the Nigeria Police Force.
“In clear terms, the IGP’s tenure is not subject to unnecessary debate and should not be a source of distraction to the policing system in Nigeria. The law is sacrosanct.”
