The heat is on! Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun is smack in the middle of a fresh controversy, and it’s got tongues wagging across the country. The reason? His extended stay in office, has sparked mixed reactions from politicians, legal experts, police officers, and human rights activists.
One of the loudest voices against the IGP’s tenure extension is activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore. He has consistently called Egbetokun an “illegal IGP,” insisting that his stay in office goes against due process. The activist didn’t stop at just words—he was recently invited (and detained) by the police after refusing to accept their bail conditions.
Sowore has made it clear: he isn’t backing down. “I have no apology for calling him an ‘illegal IGP,’ and I will not stop addressing him in that way,” he declared after rejecting what he called “ridiculous” bail conditions.
While Sowore battles the IGP on one front, some senior police officers are also raising eyebrows. They argue that Egbetokun’s extended stay has blocked career growth, making it impossible for deserving officers to rise to the top. For them, it’s not just about legal technicalities—it’s about fairness and professional progression.
The Federal Government, the Police Council, and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, have come to Egbetokun’s defence. According to them, the extension is perfectly legal. They point to the 2024 amendment of the Police Act, which allows an IGP to serve a four-year term, regardless of age or years of service.
“The appointment of Egbetokun is lawful. The amendments ensure continuity in police leadership, which is necessary for long-term planning,” said AGF Fagbemi.
The Force Headquarters (FHQ) also backed the IGP, insisting that his appointment was legally ratified by the Police Council and the Presidency.
Critics argue that the law was amended in a hurry just to accommodate Egbetokun. The Senate passed the amendment within a week, sparking speculations that it was a calculated move.
he amendment, which has generated reactions, was the inclusion of Section 18(8A) by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Section 18(8) of the Police Act states that: “Every police officer shall, on recruitment or appointment, serve in the Nigeria Police Force for a period of 35 years or until he attains the age of 60 years, whichever is earlier”.
Part 111 Section 7 (6) of the Act, which repealed the Police Act Cap. P19, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, prescribed a four-year single tenure for a person appointed to the office of the IGP subject to the provisions of clause 18 (8).
But Section 18(8A) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020 was amended as follows:
“Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (8) of this section, any person appointed to the office of Inspector-General of Police shall remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment in line with the provisions of Section 7(6) of this Act.”
Meanwhile, legal minds like Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, believe the police are misusing their powers. “The charge against Sowore is laughable. The IGP should be removed to save Nigeria from embarrassment,” he said during an interview on Arise TV.
