President Buhari Names Usman Alkali Baba As New Acting IGP

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday approved the appointment of Usman Alkali Baba as the new acting Inspector- General of Police (IGP), AllNews reports.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi who disclosed Buhari's directive in a statement made available to the State House correspondent in Abuja said Alkali’s appointment is with immediate effect.

According to the statement, Alkali, who was a deputy inspector-general of police (DIG) until his appointment, will replace Mohammed Adamu.

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The statement further stated that the issues of professionalism, competence, and years of service were considered before the appointment.

AllNews reported that President Buhari had on February 4, 2021, extended the tenure of Adamu as the IGP for three months.

Adamu, who was appointed in 2019, had on February 1, 2021, clocked the mandatory 35 years in service and was expected to have been replaced by the president.

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It will be recalled that his tenure extension had elicited widespread criticism and a resultant lawsuit. 

Maxwell Opara, a legal practitioner, had taken the IGP to court, contending that by virtue of section 215 of the Nigerian constitution and section 7 of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, he cannot continue to function as the IGP, having retired as a serving member of the force.

In his defense, the IGP had told the federal high court that the new Nigeria Police Act gave him a four-year tenure, which would only lapse in either 2023 or 2024.

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Supporting Adamu’s position, Buhari and the attorney-general of the federation, Abubakar Malami had said the law permits the IGP to remain in office.

However, Akali Baba's appointment comes two months and three days into the IGP Adamu extension.