An Abuja-based lawyer and human rights advocate, Maxwell Opara, has filed a legal suit against President Bola Tinubu, challenging the extension of the tenure of Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun.

The lawyer is urging the Federal High Court in Abuja to prohibit Egbetokun from continuing to serve as the IGP, arguing that he should vacate the position after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60 on September 4, 2024.

Opara’s legal challenge centers on the alleged illegality of Egbetokun’s continued service, claiming that by law, his tenure should automatically end when he turned 60.

Opara insists that Egbetokun’s term cannot be legally extended beyond the statutory retirement age, even if the law governing the office of the IGP was amended.

The controversy gained attention after Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi clarified on Friday that President Tinubu did not explicitly extend the IGP’s tenure.

Instead, Adejobi explained that the president had simply approved the applicable law governing the IGP’s office, implying that any confusion was related to the legal framework itself, rather than a direct extension of Egbetokun’s term.

However, Opara remains resolute in his position, arguing that any law enacted after Egbetokun’s mandatory retirement date cannot retroactively restore his appointment.

He asserts that the law must operate within its prescribed bounds and should not be used to justify the Inspector General’s continued service after his legally mandated retirement.

As the legal battle unfolds, the court is expected to consider whether Egbetokun can remain in office under the newly approved legal provisions or if his tenure must end as stipulated by existing retirement laws.

At this time, no hearing date has been set for the case, but it has sparked widespread interest, as it could have significant implications for the future of leadership appointments within Nigeria’s police force.

The case raises broader questions about the legal framework governing public service appointments in Nigeria and the potential implications of retroactive legal amendments.

For now, the fate of the IGP remains uncertain as the court is set to weigh in on whether his continued service violates the country’s retirement laws.