Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has affirmed the continued stay in office, by Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, as lawful and legal.The AGF, in a statement he signed, noted that Egbetokun’s appointment, which took effect on October 31, 2023, would have come to an end on his attainment of 60 years of age on September 4, 2024.Fagbemi however said, that before Egbetokun’s retirement age, the Police Act was amended to allow the occupant of the office to remain and complete the original four year term granted under Section 7 (6) of the Act, notwithstanding the fact that he has attained the age of 60 years.
The AGF noted that, the development had therefore, statutorily extended the tenure of office of Egbetokun to and including 31st day of October, 2027 in order to complete the four year tenure granted to him.Fagbemi therefore held that, for the guidance of the general public and for the avoidance of doubt, Egbetokun’s continous stay in office is in line with the provisions of the Police Act amended in 2024 which allow the occupant of the office to enjoy a term of four years effective from the date of his appointment as IGP, in this case, 31st day of October 2023.However growing number of critics have described his continued stay in office as illegal.The most recent is that of the convener #Revolutionnow movement Omoyele Sowore, who also described Egbetokun’s continued stay in office as illegal on social media, which led to his arrest and arraignment before the Federal high court in Abuja, which he pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge bothering on cybercrime, preferred against him by the Inspector General of Police.