Court dismisses suit seeking sack of Usman Alkali Baba as IGP

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday dismissed a suit seeking the removal of Usman Alkali Baba as the Inspector General of Police, IGP.

The suit instituted against President Muhammadu Buhari and four others by an Abuja activist, Michael Sam 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.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Judge held that the retirement of Alkali Baba Usman 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, had no jurisdiction in instituting the case under the guise of public interest.

He 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, adding that he was not a serving police officer qualified for appointment or ever applied for IGP’s position and denied, adding that he has no legal standing 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 IGP in office, having served out his tenure.

The suit marked FHC/ CS/ 31/2023 was subsequently dismissed without any cost against the plaintiff.