"There’ll be constitutional crisis if IGP stayed beyond 12 midnight"

 

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has warned that there will be a constitutional crisis in the country if the Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Adamu, stayed in office beyond 12 midnight of February 1.

 

In an  interview with  PUNCH, Adegboruwa explained that Adamu seizes to be a member of the Nigeria Police Force from 12 midnight.

 

According to him, the failure of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to either extend the tenure of the IGP or name a replacement has several legal consequences.

 

“It is going to be a constitutional crisis if he does not vacate office by the end of today. There will be a serious constitutional crisis if he remains in office without extension or replacement by 12 midnight,” he said.

 

Adamu is expected to leave the office on Monday (today), having reached the mandatory retirement age, but the silence from the Presidency and failure of the council to meet are giving confusing signals.

 

Our correspondent had earlier reported moves by Adamu to secure tenure extension to enable him to complete the ongoing reforms in the police.

 

The silence from the Presidency and the inability of the police council to meet and appoint Adamu’s successor is strengthening rumours that the President may have approved additional months in office for him.

 

Buhari had granted the privilege to the immediate past Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Muhammadu Gana, the service chiefs who overstayed in office by five years and the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede.