A rights group, the Human Rights Monitoring Agenda, HURMA, has implored President Bola Tinubu to reject the amendment to the Nigeria Police Act 2020.

Its Executive Director, Comrade Buna Balogun, at a news briefing in Lagos, said the bill, which seeks to extend the service years of police personnel, undermines the rule of law and could cause internal discord within the force.

Comrade Balogun described the bill as undemocratic and questioned its swift rapid passage by the national assembly.

He expressed concerns over the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun’s extended stay in office, noting that he is due to retire in September.

According to him, the concern of the group is that Egbetokun should have proceeded on his terminal leave and handed over to another officer in an Acting capacity before appointing a substantive Inspector General of Police.

In his words, this is in line with Section 215(1) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as altered.

Comrade Balogun said it is amazing to note the overzealousness of the distinguished members of the National Assembly in passing a Bill to amend the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, to accommodate Egbetokun’s prolonged tenure despite his reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60 years.

We have serious grounds to doubt the democratic credentials and loyalty of our lawmakers to the Nigerian people due to the rapid passage of the Amendment Bill without public hearings

“The Amendment Bill of Police Act, 2020 is flawed regarding the procedure followed by the National Assembly in passing it.

“If assented to by the President, this law could be nullified in a court of competent jurisdiction if challenged by us as patriotic Nigerians. 

“The police, as one of the pillars of democratic institutions, should not be manipulated by the personal ambitions of an individual who has exhausted all his possibilities in leading the Nigeria Police.

Based on the foregoing, we urge the President to uphold the Oath of Office sworn upon becoming President of all Nigerians.

We plead with the President to use his constitutional powers to save the Nigeria Police from internal conspiracy and disloyalty among officers, which may arise due to compromised career progression, especially at a time when our country is very fragile.

The best decision for the President in this circumstance is to withhold his consent to the Amendment Bill of Police Act, 2020, passed by the National Assembly as it is self-serving and unpatriotic.

Comrade Balogun criticised Egbetokun’s performance, arguing that his continued leadership would not benefit the country.

The record of performance of Egbetokun is so abysmal that his continuation in office as the top police officer will be a disservice to the country,” he said.

He has not demonstrated the capacity to run a modern police command structure in a diverse country like Nigeria, saying Egbetokun has been following the outdated practices of his predecessors.

He urged the president to appoint of a new IGP or his organisation will head to court.

The President has demonstrated strength of character in the recent seamless and noiseless succession plans for the Head of Service of the Federation and the Chief Justice of the Federation. 

We state that there should not be an exception for the police institution, Olaitan said.

PRESS CONFERENCE ON APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE: A CLARION CALL TO FOLLOW DUE PROCESS OF LAW ADDRESSED THIS 16TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2024, IPC, OGBA, IKEJA-LAGOS

Gentlemen/Women of the Press

We are members of the above named Human Rights Organization with a mandate to protect the violation of fundamental rights of human persons as entrenched in the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Right.
We have a strong commitment to the defence of the oppressed and victims of human right abuses.
We campaign for accountability, openness in governance and exhibition of due process of law in appointments and removals of public officers in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The gravamen of this press conference centers on the exclusive exercise of power of Mr. President in appointing and removing of an Inspector General of Police, which is presently being occupied by Kayode Egbetokun.

Gentlemen, the office of the Inspector General of Police, is highly strategic for the survival of a nation because of the statutory powers he exercises over full command and operational control of the Police and all its departments and units.

Gentlemen, may we respectfully draw your attention to the fact that the Police as an institution, among other responsibilities, exercises the power of coercion to enforce court judgements of all courts in Nigeria, to detect crime and maintain law and order on behalf of the state.

Mr. Kayode Egbetokun was appointed as Inspector General of Police in the year 2023, to hold office till his retirement upon 35 years in service or attainment of the age of 60, by Mr. Kayode Egbetokun official records, he is due for retirement by the month of September, 2024 when he attains the age of 60 having been born on the 4th day of September, 1964.

Our concern is that Mr. Kayode Egbetokun should have proceeded on his terminal leave and handover to another credible officer to hold forth in Acting capacity before the appointment of a substantive Inspector General of Police in line with the provision of Section 215(1) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as altered).

It is amazing to note the overzealousness of the distinguished members of National Assembly in passing a Bill to amend the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, to accommodate “sit tightism” of Mr. Kayode Egbetokun in office despite the attainment of mandatory 60 years of age.

We have a serious ground to doubt the democratic credentials and loyalty of our lawmakers to the Nigerian people because of the jet speed they used in passing the Amendment Bill without public hearings.

The Amendment Bill of Police Act, 2020 is full of flaws having regard to the procedure embarked upon by the National Assembly in passing it to law, this law, if assented to by Mr. President, is liable to be nullified in a court of competent jurisdiction if and when challenged by us as patriotic Nigerians.

Based on the foregoing, we urge Mr. President to abide by the Oath of Office sworn to upon becoming the president of all Nigerians. In line with the Oath of Office “that in all circumstances, I will do right to all manner of people, according to law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will” we plead with the President to use his enormous constitutional powers to save Nigeria police from the internal conspiracy and disloyalty among the officers, rank and file of the force that may arise as a result of compromise of career progression, particularly, at a time like this that our great country is very fragile.

The best decision for Mr. President in the circumstance, is to withhold his consent to the Amendment Bill of Police Act, 2020, passed by the National Assembly as it is self- serving and unpatriotic.

We are comfortable working with other pro-democracy groups and credible human rights organizations to uphold the principle of due process of law.

The police as one of the pillars of democratic institutions, should not be left in the hands of the manipulators being driven by the private ambition of an individual who has exhausted all his possibilities in commanding the Nigeria Police.

The record of performance of Mr. Kayode Egbetokun is so abysmal that his continuation in office as number one police officer will be a disservice to the country. He has not demonstrated any resourceful capacity to run a modern police command structure in an heterogenous country like Nigeria.

Simply, what Mr. Egbetogun has been doing in the office is to toe the decadent line of his predecessors in office.

It is a violation of the law of the land to bend the law to serve the interest of an individual to remain in office.

More importantly, the Amendment Bill of Police Act, 2020 cannot take a retroactive effect to enable Mr. Egbetokun benefit with the flawed amendment process except Mr. President wants to circumvent the due process of law.

Mr. President has demonstrated strength of character in the most recent seamless and noiseless succession plans of the Head of Service of the Federation and the Chief Justice of the Federation. We state that there should not be an exception to the police institution.

Our organization has written Mr. President to register our complaint against the untidy Amendment Bill of Police Act, 2020 passed by the National Assembly without Public Hearing in line the its extant rules and we have notified Mr. President about our intention to approach a court of competent jurisdiction in ventilating our grievances to ensure justice in the process of appointment of Inspector General of Police.

We thank you all.

COMRADE BUNA .I. OLAITAN BALOGUN

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR