The Nigeria Police Force has debunked the news circulating on social media about the reported sacking of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali-Baba. In a statement released on Monday, the force spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, urged Nigerians to disregard the false news.
The statement affirmed that Usman Alkali-Baba remains the IGP and will continue his responsibilities as such. The false news of the IGP’s sack by the Federal High Court was termed unfounded and the handiwork of mischief makers.
According to Adejobi, Mr Alkali was appointed for a four-year tenure as indicated in the letter-number SGF.20/S.6/83 dated 30th Nov 2021. The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had dismissed a suit seeking to compel the IGP to vacate his office on March 1, 2023, thus affirming the IGP’s four-year tenure as sacrosanct in line with the provisions of Section 7 (6) of the Police Act, 2020.
Adejobi further explained that the four-year period for individuals appointed as IGP is being institutionalized by the provisions of the law and not for personal grounds to favour anyone but for the general betterment of the Nigeria Police Force.
The statement concludes that the IGP’s retirement has nothing to do with age or years of service, rather the statutory four-year tenure. Therefore, Nigerians should ignore the fake news and rest assured that IGP Usman Alkali Baba remains the Inspector-General of Police and will carry out his duties within the ambit of the law.
