Meddlesome Interloper: Court Dismisses Suit Seeking Removal Of Police IGP

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has dismissed a suit seeking to sack the inspector-general of police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba.

The suit filed against President Muhammadu Buhari and four others by an Abuja-based activist, Micheal Sam Idoko, was dismissed by the court for lack of locus standi.

Idoko, through his counsel, Chief James Ogwu Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had filed the suit, marked FHC/CS/ 31/2023, challenging the legality of the continuous stay of the IGP in office having served out his tenure.

Ruling on the suit on Tuesday, Presiding Justice of the Court, James Omotosho, 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 IGP Baba from the Nigeria Police Force has nothing to do with his appointment, adding that the four years tenure is sacrosanct.
Noting that the plaintiff has no jurisdiction in instituting the case under the guise of public interest, Justice James Omotosho, described the plaintiff as a busy-body and meddlesome interloper.

The court held that he was not a serving police officer qualified for appointment or ever applied for IGP’s position and denied