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JUST IN: IAWPA Delegates Confirmed The Release Of the Two Inmates In Delta State

 

Reporting: ICC MEDIA 27 MAY, 2023


R-L DPO CSP, Edwin Igoche (Kwale Division Delta State), Amb. Comr. George (Director Protocol IAWPA, Amb. Comr. Isaac (Media Director) and Comr. Philip (Office of the Int'l. Spokesman)

PEACE MOVEMENT: Delegates from International Association of World Peace Advocates visit to the Kwale Police Division in conformation  of His Eminence AMB. Chief Andrew's compassion for the release of two inmates in police custody, assignment completed. 



Court Orders Nigerian Inspector-General Of Police, Usman Baba To Quit Office After Attaining Retirement Age



A Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, has ruled that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Baba Alkali, is an illegal occupant of the office he is presently holding.

Justice Fatun Riman while delivering on a suit filed, declared Usman Baba’s appointment and continued stay in office as unlawful and unconstitutional.

The court in its judgment in suit number FHC/AKW/CS/58/2023, filed by Okechukwu Nwafor, the Plaintiff, who described himself as a tax paper said the IGP’s continuous stay in office was against the clear provisions of the Police Act, 2020, after he had clocked the retirement age on March 1, 2023.

In the judgment obtained by SaharaReporters on Saturday, Justice Riman further held that only an officer within the listed rank, with four (4) years in service, could be appointed as IGP, not one with less than four (4) years.

The court also ordered Alkali Baba to stop parading himself as the Inspector-General of Police, IGP.

The court ordered the President to convene a meeting of the Nigeria Police Council to appoint a new Inspector General of Police who will hold office for four years.

The plaintiff in the suit dragged President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Usman Alkali Baba, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and the Nigeria Police Council before the court, seeking an order to stop the IGP from further occupying office as his tenure had expired.

The reliefs sought by the plaintiff include: “A declaration that by a communal reading of the provisions of sections 215(a) and 216(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), Sections 7 (2) &(6) and 18(8) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020, the appointment of the 2nd Defendant is UNLAWFUL and INVALID, the 2nd Defendant not being a person capable of fulfilling the mandatory requirement of tenure of office of Inspector General of Police and /or the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) having not been complied with.

“A declaration that the 2nd Defendant is not qualified to hold the office of the Inspector General of Police for the sole reason that doing so will lead to absurdity which will amount to a complete breach and total disregard for the clear and unambiguous provision of section 7 (6) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020.” “A declaration that the 1st Defendant has no power whatsoever to extend the condition for the retirement of a Police officer as contained in section 18(8) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020.” “An order restraining the 2nd Defendant from further parading himself as the Inspector-General of Police of the Federal Republi of Nigeria or exercising any form of command or control over the Nigeria Police Force.

“An order mandating the 1st Defendant to immediately convene a meeting for members of the 4th Defendant for the purpose of appointing a new Inspector General of Police capable of holding the office for the fixed term of four years unhindered by section 18(8) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020 and also in line with the provisions of sections 7 of the Nigeria Police Act.” “Such further or other orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case.”

In his judgement, after listening to Counsel in the matter, Justice Riman held, “It is important to observe that the Inspector-General of Police is a public servant and by virtue of the fact that he is a member of the staff of the Nigeria Police Force, an authority established from the Federation by Section 214 (1) of the Constitution and in subject of the Federal Public Rules 299 (PSR) thereof which provides for the compulsory retirement of all grades of public service officers at the age of 60 or 35 years of service, whichever comes first.



"In the instant case, the 2nd Defendant’s (IGP's) birthday comes first. By the said Rule, the 2nd Defendant is obliged to step down on March 1st 2023. The PSR retirement age provision, is mirrored in section 18 (8) of the Police Act, on the word “Shall” is used in the provision, it is mandatory. See the case of ISHOLA V. AJIBOLA 1994 4 NWLR PT 352 para 506 by Rhodes Vivour JCA (as he then was) and also IBRAHIM & ANOR V. AKINRISOLA (2010) LEPLR 444 CA, Section 7 (6) at the Police Act provides for a four year term or tenure for the Inspector General of Police and the word “Shall” is also used in the said provision.

"I also observe that despite the prerogative power of the President, he is limited to the provisions of the Constitution. The Inspector General of Police retirement is statutory and constitutional issue and no other law of the land can change the ground norm."

“In my view, the requirement of locus is not necessary in constitutional cases as the application of the concept could impede the administration of justice. There is a liberalisation of the concept of locus standi when it involves constitutional matters. The Plaintiff is a Nigerian and taxpayer, as stated in his affidavit paragraph, and this has not been disputed. I find merit in this suit. Accordingly, judgment is entered in favour of the Plaintiff in accordance with the reliefs sought.”



Alkali Baba had clocked 60 on March 1, 2023. 

President Buhari had in January extended the Alkali’s tenure, knowing fully well that he was to clock 60 years which was the compulsory year for retirement.


May 29: A Reminder of What Bola Tinubu Has First Six Months As President

The whole nation is patiently waiting for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inauguration as the next president of Nigeria, succeeding president Muhammadu Buhari. The inauguration which would take place on the 29th would pave way for the long awaited Asiwaju’s presidency. However, in this article, we would take a reminder of 5 things Bola Tinubu has promised to achieve in his first 6 months as President.

Phase Out Fuel subsidy within six months

Dedicate funds Dedicate funds that would have been used on the fuel subsidy to targeted infrastructural, agricultural and social welfare programmes

Fully implement the Petroleum Industry Act and other oil and gas policies to attract investment within six months

Reserve at least three cabinet positions for persons under the age of 40 and six for members under the age of 50

Reserve at least 20% of political appointments to ministries, departments and agencies to qualified people under-40.




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Wike Confers Highest State Honours On El-Rufai, Akpabio, Others


Report from our sources: ICC MEDIA 


GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on Saturday conferred the highest state honours, the Grand Service Star of Rivers State (GSSRS), on eight individuals, including Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.

News Point Nigeria reports that, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the incoming Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara also received the honours at the State Awards and Pre-Inauguration Dinner held at the Banquet hall, Government House, Port Harcourt on Saturday.

The recognition was the highest of four categories of awards conferred by the governor.

One hundred and sixty others also received the second highest honour of Distinguished Service Star of Rivers State (DSSRS).

The third category, the Governor’s Medal of Service (GMS), was awarded to 15 individuals, including some security details to the governor and drivers in his convoy.

The Rivers State Medals Award (RSMA) — the fourth category of honours — was conferred on 11 persons, including five dedicated primary school teachers.