A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking the removal of Nigeria’s Police Chief, Mr Usman Alkali.
The suit instituted against President Muhammadu Buhari and four others by an Abuja activist, Micheal Idoko was dismissed by Justice John Omotoso.
In his judgment, Justice Omotoso invoked section 7 (6) of the Police Act 2020 which put the tenure of office of any Inspector General of Police at four years.
The Judge held that the retirement of Alkali from the Nigeria Police Force has nothing to do with his appointment on the ground that the four years tenure is sacrosanct.
Besides, Justice Omotoso said that “the plaintiff who claimed to be a social crusader has no jurisdiction in instituting the case under the guise of public interest.”
The court held that the plaintiff failed to establish having any peculiar or special interest over and above other Nigerians.
Specifically, Justice Omotoso described the plaintiff as a ‘busybody and meddlesome’ interloper.
The Judge said the plaintiff was not a serving police officer qualified for appointment or ever applied for IGP’s position and has no legal ground in filing the suit.
Idoko, through his Counsel, Chief James Ogwu Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, had filed the suit challenging the legality of the continuous stay of the Inspector General of Police in the office having served out his tenure.
The court subsequently dismissed the suit without any cost against the plaintiff.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
