The Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, says the three-month tenure extension granted to outgoing Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, was terminated following the completion of the selection process for a new I-G.
The Minister said this when he spoke with State House Correspondents on Tuesday.
Dingyadi had earlier announced the appointment of Deputy Inspector-General of Police Usman Baba as Acting Inspector-General of Police.
The appointment of Usman was with immediate effect.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Buhari had on February 4 extended the tenure of Adamu as the IGP for three months.
Adamu, however, spent two months and three days of the extended period.
Reacting to why the President did not allow the outgoing I-G to last the three months of his extension, the minister said: “The President is aware of this and you cannot take away that responsibility from him.
“He’s the one who is in charge of appointing or extending tenures.
”He has now decided to appoint a new person.
“So, please, allow him that responsibility and we cannot do anything about it.”
Dingyadi explained that the appointment of the acting I-G followed a thorough check of a shortlist of suitably qualified police officers from the rank of DIGs and AIGs.
He said all the shortlisted candidates were police officers eligible for appointment as I-G in line with Section 7, Sub-section 2 of the Nigeria Police Act (2020).
He said: “The tenure of the I-G Mohammed Adamu, which ended on February 1, 2021, was extended by the President to enable a detailed process of appointing a new I-G, in line with Section 15 (A) of the 1999 Constitution.
“After a thorough check of a shortlist of suitably qualified police officers from the rank of DIGs and AIGs, who are eligible police officers, eligible for appointment as I-G, in line with Section 7, Sub-section 2 of the Nigeria Police Act (2020).
“And having regards to seniority, professionalism, record of service and competence, the president has approved the appointment of an acting I-G, in the person of Usman Alkali Baba, with immediate effect.
“These changes are in line with the determination of the President to rejig the security architecture and to ensure that the security challenges bedeviling the nation are brought to an end.
“The President has, therefore, charged the new appointee to rise to the challenge to ensure policing reform policy of this administration are fully prioritised and implemented to enable the police to perform most effectively for the peace and security of lives and property of all Nigerians.”
The Minister quoted the President as thanking Adamu for his professionalism and dedication to duty during the period of his tenure, adding: “He wished him all the best in his future endeavours.”