Renowned human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has raised concerns over the continued stay of Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in office, asserting that he should have retired from service as per legal provisions.
According to multiple reports, Farotimi has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for extending Egbetokun’s tenure beyond the mandatory retirement period. He argues that this decision is a direct violation of constitutional provisions governing public service tenure.
Speaking in a recent interview with News Central, Farotimi aligned with the position of former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, who had earlier accused the administration of unlawfully prolonging Egbetokun’s service.
During the interview, Farotimi expressed his deep concerns about Nigeria's legal framework, stating:
“Nigeria, as a legal entity, is full of lies and contradictions, where laws rarely matter in governance. If the law truly mattered, then the reality is that Yele [Sowore] is absolutely correct. The Inspector-General of Police’s tenure is illegal because he has exceeded his lawful time in office.”
He further criticized the federal government’s stance on the matter, claiming that the presidency’s actions suggest that the law holds little significance in Nigeria’s governance. He continued:
“What the presidency is essentially telling Nigerians is that the law does not matter. The President has made a decree, and that decree stands, regardless of what the constitution states. If the administration were acting in line with legal principles, then Egbetokun would have retired as required by law.”
Farotimi elaborated on his use of the term "illegal," explaining that the President’s decision to keep Egbetokun in office was in clear defiance of established legal frameworks. He further emphasized that even the Police Service Commission (PSC) had acknowledged that Egbetokun should have retired by now.
“If the President’s word is considered superior to the clear and explicit provisions of the law, then the undeniable reality is that he has acted outside legal boundaries, effectively issuing a decree rather than following constitutional procedures,” he added.
Farotimi also underscored the broader implications of the government’s approach, warning that such actions contribute to a growing disregard for the rule of law in Nigeria. He insisted that the Police Service Commission’s failure to refute claims regarding Egbetokun’s overdue retirement further validates the argument that his tenure is unlawful.
“When the pronouncement of the President overrides the law, the logical conclusion is that we are operating under a system where presidential decrees take precedence over constitutional provisions. That, in itself, is a troubling reality that Nigerians must reckon with,” he concluded.