…Says NBA acted based on Public Interest and the need to protect Rule of Law
….Calls on President Buhari to sack Adamu and appoint new person as IGP
The Law Students Association of Nigeria, LAWSAN, has thrown its weight behind the law suit filed by the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, against President Buhari for extending the tenure of Mohammed Adamu as Inspector-General of Police for three months.
This is contained in a Press Release made available to TheNigeriaLawyer signed by the LAWSAN national President, Dr. Blessing Agbomhere titled “NANS PRESIDENT ASEFON’S CRITICISM OF THE NBA’S DECISION TO SUE FOR THE REMOVAL INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE IS GROSS DISPLAY OF ILLITERACY TO THE LAWS GOVERNING NIGERIA.”
According to Agbomhere, NBA cannot be faulted as it acted in public interest and the need to protect Rule of Law.
He said, “The Law Students’ Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN) condemns the irrational statement made by the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Sunday Asefon criticizing the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for instituting a legal action against the Presidency on the decision to extend the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
“The Nigeria Police Force is established under Section 214 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) while subsequently, Section 215 gives power to the President to appoint the Inspector-General of Police on the advice of the Nigeria Police Council. Chapter 2, Section 8, Rule 10 (i) and (ii) of the Federal Government Public Service Rules provide clearly that the compulsory retirement age for all grades in the service shall be 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service whichever is earlier, and no officer shall be allowed to remain in service after attaining the retirement age of 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service whichever is earlier.
“The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has a mandate to act in public interest and protect the rule of law. Therefore, it cannot be faulted for compelling the court to issue an order asking Mr. Mohammed Adamu, a retired Police Officer to vacate the office of the Inspector-General of Police immediately, to give room for a more competent, serving and qualified officer among the finest officers of the Force to occupy the said office.”
“We strongly support the position of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and advise President Muhammadu Buhari not to rely solely on Section 107 of the Police Act which emphasizes only the age of retirement but kept silent on retirement based on years of pensionable service.”
He, therefore, urged President Buhari to sack the IGP and appoint a new person
“We urge Mr President to disengage the current Inspector-General of Police based on the provision of Federal Government Public Service Rules and appoint a new Inspector-General of Police from amongst the finest officers available in the Force.
“God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Agbomhere said