The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), says President Muhammadu Buhari acted within the law in extending the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
Malami said this on Wednesday during a television interview in Abuja.
He said the president acted within the timeframe stipulated by the constitution and exercised his powers to appoint persons into offices subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Buhari extended the tenure of IGP by three months last week Wednesday, after Adamu had reached the statutory retirement age of 35 years on Monday. The president in a statement by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said the extension was to give him time to appoint a suitable person to the position.
The president’s decision, however, stirred controversy as many lawyers alleged a breach of Sections 215 and 216 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 7 of the Nigerian Police Act 2020.
But Malami said the arguments of the lawyers were not based on facts available to the president.
“What I am saying in essence is that within the context of official records, within the context of the action taken by Mr President in terms of extension of tenure, the necessary compliance of with the law has been consummated, and the president was and indeed acted within the context of the law,” he said.
