TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended the tenure of Mohammed Adamu as the inspector general of police (IGP) by three months.

Mohammad Dingyadi, minister of police affairs, confirmed the development to state house correspondents on Thursday at the presidential villa, Abuja.

According to the minister, the president said the extension was necessary to give room for the proper selection of a successor.

He said: “Mr President has decided that the present IGP, Mohammed Adamu, will continue to serve as the IG for the next three months, to allow for a robust and efficient process of appointing a new IG.

“This is not unconnected to the desire of Mr President to, not only have a smooth handover, but to also ensure that the right officer is appointed into that position.”

The minister dismissed the notion that the IGP had retired, describing it as “one of those social media stories that one cannot control”.

The IGP was expected to leave office on Monday, February 1, following the end 0f his tenure.

Days leading to the expiration of his time in office, speculations emerged from various quarters on his possible replacement.

When the president returned from his trip to Katsina, Adamu was spotted among his welcome party at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, fuelling rumours that his tenure may be extended.

On Wednesday, Maxwell Okpara, an Abuja-based lawyer, asked a federal high court sitting in the federal capital territory (FCT) to stop Adamu from ”parading himself” as the IGP.

He asked for an order restraining Adamu from “exercising any form of command or control over the Nigeria Police Force”.

According to the suit, Adamu is “no longer a serving police officer”, hence, should not be occupying the position of IGP.