Lawyer Withdraws Suit Challenging Egbetokun’s Tenure Extension

Abuja-based human rights lawyer Maxwell Opara has withdrawn his legal challenge to the tenure extension of former Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun after the police chief stepped down from office.

At proceedings before the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Opara informed Justice Umar Mohammed that the matter had become academic in light of Egbetokun’s resignation.

The lawyer had instituted the action against Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Police Council, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Federal Civil Service Commission.

Filed on September 10 2024, the originating summons sought declarations that Egbetokun had attained the compulsory retirement age of 60 and ought to have left public service. It further argued that an appointment terminated by operation of law could not be revived through subsequent legislative amendments. The suit also prayed the court to restrain him from continuing to present himself as Inspector-General of Police.

When the case was called, Opara told the court he was discontinuing the action because the issues raised had become moot following Egbetokun’s departure from office.

He observed that although he had wished the court to forestall a recurrence of similar circumstances, a precedent of the Court of Appeal had characterised such reliefs as academic exercises.

Justice Umar Mohammed subsequently struck out the suit upon the claimant’s application.

Egbetokun resigned as Inspector-General of Police on 24 February, citing personal and family reasons for his decision.

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Toyibat Ajose

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