Acting IGP Usman Baba Not Qualified — Lawyer Writes Buhari

An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Maxwell Okpara, has written
an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari in respect of the
appointment of Usman Alkali Baba as the acting Inspector-General of
Police (IGP).

Okpara, in the letter, appealed to the President to act in
accordance with the law he assented to in appointing a substantive
IGP.

Opara also urged the President to “avoid being misled into the
destruction of State Institutions with unnecessary politics and
influence peddling.”

Opara in his open letter dated May 10, 2021 pointed out that
“Nigeria is currently going back to the same scenario of
unnecessary distractions of lobbying and attempts to subverts the
clear provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Act, 2020 by desperate politicians
who are only interested in 2023 elections and are out to impose an
unqualified IGP who they believe will do their bidding.

The legal practitioner, in his open letter asked, “Why do we
enjoy the destruction of State Institutions with unnecessary
politics and influence peddling?

He added, “It is widely rumoured that so much money have and is
being spent in the bid to retain the appointment of anyone as
Inspector-General of Police, irrespective of the obvious lack of
qualification – whether this is true or not, it should not be
allowed to degenerate to this level before Mr. President does the
right thing and act by the law.

“I am hopeful that Mr. President will heed to this kind
admonition in the overall interest of our nation, especially at
this precarious time that legitimacy will go a long way in covering
the gap created by obvious acts of nepotism at the expense of our
law and national unity.

“If Mr. President knew that he was not willing to abide by this
law, why did he assent to it?

“Is the application of law now subjected to political, ethnic
and religious considerations?

Continuing, Opara said, “The subject matter of appointing a new
Inspector-General for the Nigeria Police Force has been one that I
saw as an opportunity for this great nation to rise above
primordial cleavages and, for once, abide by the letters and spirit
of our laws devoid of politics, nepotism and or religious and
tribal sentiment.

“That was my driving force when I challenged the tenure
extension granted to the former Inspector-General, Adamu Muhammed
upon his statutory retirement.

“That case was due for judgment before Mr. President realized
the error and effectively removed him from office.

“My action was not borne out of hatred for the former
Inspector-General of Police, neither is my present resistance for
the appointment of Usman Alkali Baba as the Acting
Inspector-General borne out of tribalism or religious
consideration.

“My action is solely a passionate pursuit of justice for
Nigerians and the need to uphold our laws as they are presently in
effect.

“My action is a patriotic public interest activism aimed at
ensuring that our foremost internal security institution is
insulated from politics and unnecessary favoritism in the
appointment of its leadership.

“Mr. President will agree with me that the wrongful extension of
the tenure of the former IGP led to an unnecessary distraction in
the core responsibility of the police as the then IGP became
pre-occupied with lobbying to secure his office rather than
securing the lives and properties of Nigerians.

“He hired lawyers to present bizarre argument on his behalf with
the intention of turning the law on its head in order for him to
remain in office beyond his mandatory statutory retirement age.

“Your Excellency, we are currently back to the same scenario of
unnecessary distractions of lobbying and attempts to subverts the
clear provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Act, 2020 by desperate politicians
who are only interested in 2023 elections and are out to impose an
unqualified IGP who they believe will do their bidding.

“One wonders why the President of the Nigerian Senate whose
chamber was involved in the enactment of the Police Act, 2020 will
be silent when a clearly unqualified person is appointed as the IGP
of Police at a time that our nation is in need of 100% lawful
actions required for legitimacy in the security sector of our
nation.

“At least, the Nigeria Senate should be seen and heard insisting
that the law they passed to reform and professionalize the Nigerian
Police Force is strictly adhered to in implementation.

“However, it seems the Senate is even in support of totally
breaching that law for their political convenience.

“Also, it is greatly depressing to imagine that the
Attorney-General of the federation might have advised in support of
such an unlawful appointment as he has remained silent after openly
defending the most illegal tenure extension of the former IGP.

“The Attorney-General of the federation seems to be more
interested in politics than upholding our laws.

“There is no other reason for the Attorney-General to turn a
blind eye over such an illegal appointment except politics or
genuine lack of understanding of our laws – that is most
unfortunate. In both circumstances”, he said in the letter.

An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Maxwell Okpara, has written
an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari in respect of the
appointment of Usman Alkali Baba as the acting Inspector-General of
Police (IGP).

Okpara, in the letter, appealed to the President to act in
accordance with the law he assented to in appointing a substantive
IGP.

Opara also urged the President to “avoid being misled into the
destruction of State Institutions with unnecessary politics and
influence peddling.”

Opara in his open letter dated May 10, 2021 pointed out that
“Nigeria is currently going back to the same scenario of
unnecessary distractions of lobbying and attempts to subverts the
clear provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Act, 2020 by desperate politicians
who are only interested in 2023 elections and are out to impose an
unqualified IGP who they believe will do their bidding.

The legal practitioner, in his open letter asked, “Why do we
enjoy the destruction of State Institutions with unnecessary
politics and influence peddling?

He added, “It is widely rumoured that so much money have and is
being spent in the bid to retain the appointment of anyone as
Inspector-General of Police, irrespective of the obvious lack of
qualification – whether this is true or not, it should not be
allowed to degenerate to this level before Mr. President does the
right thing and act by the law.

“I am hopeful that Mr. President will heed to this kind
admonition in the overall interest of our nation, especially at
this precarious time that legitimacy will go a long way in covering
the gap created by obvious acts of nepotism at the expense of our
law and national unity.

“If Mr. President knew that he was not willing to abide by this
law, why did he assent to it?

“Is the application of law now subjected to political, ethnic
and religious considerations?

Continuing, Opara said, “The subject matter of appointing a new
Inspector-General for the Nigeria Police Force has been one that I
saw as an opportunity for this great nation to rise above
primordial cleavages and, for once, abide by the letters and spirit
of our laws devoid of politics, nepotism and or religious and
tribal sentiment.

“That was my driving force when I challenged the tenure
extension granted to the former Inspector-General, Adamu Muhammed
upon his statutory retirement.

“That case was due for judgment before Mr. President realized
the error and effectively removed him from office.

“My action was not borne out of hatred for the former
Inspector-General of Police, neither is my present resistance for
the appointment of Usman Alkali Baba as the Acting
Inspector-General borne out of tribalism or religious
consideration.

“My action is solely a passionate pursuit of justice for
Nigerians and the need to uphold our laws as they are presently in
effect.

“My action is a patriotic public interest activism aimed at
ensuring that our foremost internal security institution is
insulated from politics and unnecessary favoritism in the
appointment of its leadership.

“Mr. President will agree with me that the wrongful extension of
the tenure of the former IGP led to an unnecessary distraction in
the core responsibility of the police as the then IGP became
pre-occupied with lobbying to secure his office rather than
securing the lives and properties of Nigerians.

“He hired lawyers to present bizarre argument on his behalf with
the intention of turning the law on its head in order for him to
remain in office beyond his mandatory statutory retirement age.

“Your Excellency, we are currently back to the same scenario of
unnecessary distractions of lobbying and attempts to subverts the
clear provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Act, 2020 by desperate politicians
who are only interested in 2023 elections and are out to impose an
unqualified IGP who they believe will do their bidding.

“One wonders why the President of the Nigerian Senate whose
chamber was involved in the enactment of the Police Act, 2020 will
be silent when a clearly unqualified person is appointed as the IGP
of Police at a time that our nation is in need of 100% lawful
actions required for legitimacy in the security sector of our
nation.

“At least, the Nigeria Senate should be seen and heard insisting
that the law they passed to reform and professionalize the Nigerian
Police Force is strictly adhered to in implementation.

“However, it seems the Senate is even in support of totally
breaching that law for their political convenience.

“Also, it is greatly depressing to imagine that the
Attorney-General of the federation might have advised in support of
such an unlawful appointment as he has remained silent after openly
defending the most illegal tenure extension of the former IGP.

“The Attorney-General of the federation seems to be more
interested in politics than upholding our laws.

“There is no other reason for the Attorney-General to turn a
blind eye over such an illegal appointment except politics or
genuine lack of understanding of our laws – that is most
unfortunate. In both circumstances”, he said in the letter.