Inspector-General of Police Mohammed A. Adamu is set to retire from the Nigeria Police force on Monday.
GoldenNewsNg gathered that there is uncertainty over what happens at the Louis Edet House, headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), as Inspector-General of Police Mohammed A. Adamu is due to retire on Monday.
According to Daily Trust, there is frenzy and heightened intrigues within the police high command and corridors of power in Abuja in the foggy race for the police top job.
Adamu, a member of the ASP Cadet Course 14, is due to retire on account of service years. The IGP clocks 35 years in service on Monday, having enlisted in the Police Force on February 1, 1986.
Typically, retiring IGPs have “pull out” ceremonies on their last day in office.
But sources at the Police Headquarters say there are no such plans yet for the outgoing police boss.
The Police Act, signed by President Muhammadu Buhari last year, pegs the retirement age of police officers at 60 years of age or 35 years of service.
Section 18 of the new Act states: “Every police officer shall, on recruitment or appointment, serve in the Nigeria Police Force for 35 years or until the age of 60 years, whichever is earlier.”
No successor announced
Hours to Adamu’s statutory retirement day, the Presidency is yet to announce a new inspector general of police or extend the tenure of the current occupant of the office.
By law, the police chief is appointed by the president on the “advice” of the Police Council. The Council is chaired by the president and has the 36 state governors, Chairman of the Police Service Commission and the IGP as members.
There is intense lobby within the power cycles in Abuja, Daily Trust gathered, with Adamu still said to be hopeful of a tenure extension.
The Buhari administration had in the past retained key military and paramilitary officials even after they exhausted their statutorily allowed time of service.
Experts and senior police officers who spoke with Daily Trust, however, warned of the dangers of repeating “the mistake” done with the military.
There was no official comment from the Force Headquarters as its spokesman, CP Frank Mba, declined calls from our correspondent.