Buhari appoints Usman Baba Alkali new police IG

President Muhammadu Buhari has named Usman Baba Alkali as the new inspector-general.

Mr Alkali, a deputy inspector-general, was appointed on Tuesday, according to police affairs minister Maigari Dingyadi. He replaces Mohammed Adamu as for the police top job.

The appointment came barely two months after Mr Buhari controversially extended the tenure of Mr Adamu, who was scheduled to proceed on retirement from February 3 after spending 35 years in service.

Mr Alkali’s appointment, which will be forwarded to the Senate for confirmation, will effectively deny Moses Jitoboh, the police chief from Bayelsa who should have been the inspector-general in line with the law.

Mr Buhari has also violated the law he signed in September 2020, which said subsequent police inspector-generals will have to spend at least four years in office.

Mr Alkali will retire on March 1, 2023, therefore lacking the legal requirement of four years. Currently, in the Nigeria Police Force’s succession hierarchy, only Mr Jitoboh has four or more years to spend in service. He is not due for retirement until 2029.