CUPP drags FG to court over alleged plot to extend IGP Idris’ tenure

– The Coalition of Political Parties has instituted legal action against President Muhammadu Buhari and the Police Service Commission

– The coalition dragged the duo to court over what it described as a plot to extend the tenure of the inspector general of police, Ibrahim idris, by six months

– The coalition wants the court to restrain President Buhari from reappointing or extending the tenure of the IGP beyond January 15, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari and the Police Service Commission (PSC) have been dragged to court by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) over alleged plot to extend the tenure of the inspector general of police, Ibrahim Idris, by six months.

Punch reports that the disclosure was made in Owerri, Imo state, on Thursday, December 27, by the spokesperson for the coalition, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere.

TRACKNEWS.NG gathers that Ugochinyere said that CUPP was aware that President Buhari intends to extend the tenure of the inspector general of police, who is supposed to proceed on retirement on January 15, 2019.

According to Ugochinyere, the legal action was instituted at the Federal High Court in Abuja and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1570/2018.

Ugochinyere said, “The IGP, who was born on January 15, 1959, and who by January 2019 will turn 60 and consequently cease to be a police officer can be reappointed as IGP in violation of the constitutional provision which clearly stipulates that only serving police officers are to be appointed.

“It is based on this that the suit is seeking a court declaration that IGP Idris is not eligible to remain in office after January 15, 2019, having attained the retirement age of 60.

“Also, for an order restraining President Muhammadu Buhari from reappointing or extending the tenure of the IGP beyond January 15, 2019.”

“The issue of the retirement of the IGP is yet another integrity test for the president. By the provisions of Section 215(1)(a)of the 1999 constitution, the IGP can only be appointed from among serving officers.”

Ugochinyere warned president Buhari from extending Idris’ tenure, adding that doing so would mean the president is desperate to win the 2019 general elections.

He said: “Any attempt to proceed with the plan for the secret extension of the tenure of the IGP will be unconstitutional, unlawful and unacceptable and will further heat up the polity. It will also further expose the President’s desperation to win the elections by foul means.”

Ugochinyere said Nigerian opposition parties would not recognise Idris as IGP if the president goes ahead to extend his tenure.

He added: “Credible intelligence at the disposal of the opposition has shown that the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, the governors of Kano and Kaduna States, the Minister of Transport and Minister Lai Mohammed and Senator Godswill Akpabio among many others are the chief proponents of this unconstitutional act and we advise them to apply restraint and desist from any further actions with potential to plunge Nigeria into crisis.”

TRACKNEWS.NG previously reported that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called on President Muhammadu Buhari to drop the alleged plan to extend the tenure of the inspector general of police, Ibrahim Idris, by another six months.

Kola Ologbondiyan, the national publicity secretary of PDP told journalists on Sunday, December 23, that any plan to extend Idris’ tenure would be seen as a plot to perpetrate rigging in the 2019 elections.

The party’s spokesperson alleged that the police boss had surrounded all the state commissioners of police with his own men who would be following them to any strategic meeting and spying for him