The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has unequivocally asserted that the continued occupancy of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, remains within the bounds
of legality and constitutional propriety.
In a statement personally endorsed by him on Thursday, Fagbemi clarified that Egbetokun’s original appointment, which officially commenced on October 31, 2023, was initially set to terminate upon his attainment of
60 years of age on September 4, 2024.
However, a pivotal amendment to the Police Act—enacted prior to Egbetokun’s statutory retirement age—has effectively elongated his tenure beyond this threshold. According to the revised provisions enshrined under
Section 7(6) of the Act, the occupant of the IGP office is now entitled to serve a full four-year tenure irrespective of whether they reach the legally prescribed retirement age within that period.
“This statutory revision has consequently prolonged Egbetokun’s tenure until October 31, 2027, allowing him to fulfill the complete four-year term accorded by law,” Fagbemi affirmed.
To dispel any misconceptions, the AGF underscored that this legislative modification falls squarely within the parameters of legal jurisprudence. He emphasized that the amended Police Act (2024) explicitly stipulates that the IGP
shall serve a fixed term of four years from the date of appointment, thereby cementing the legitimacy of Egbetokun’s prolonged stay in office.
“For absolute clarity, the continued tenure of IGP Egbetokun is entirely in consonance with the statutory provisions of the amended Police Act, which explicitly grants the occupant of this office a definitive four-year term
commencing from their official date of appointment—in this instance, October 31, 2023,” Fagbemi reiterated.
This pronouncement puts to rest any contentious debates surrounding the lawfulness of the IGP’s continued service, reinforcing that his tenure remains firmly anchored in the dictates of established legal frameworks.
