•Urges labour unions to call for strike over unilateral petrol subsidy removal

Prominent Civil Rights Advocacy Group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has kicked against “the dictatorial, authoritarian and unconstitutional announcement” by newly sworn-in President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that petrol subsidy is gone. HURIWA in a statement on Monday evening described the announcement as “inconsiderate, insensitive, irrational and reckless”.

The rights group in the statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, asked the organised civil rights community and the Labour unions “to mobilise Nigerian workers and all proletarian people of Nigeria to embark on indefinite strike and Civil disobedience actions should President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not reverse his thoughtlessly irrational proposition to end the subsidy regime when inflation and poverty are tearing millions of Nigerians apart and sending many to their early graves due to intractable economic adversities.”

HURIWA also queried President Tinubu “for allowing the discredited and Court sacked Inspector General of Police Alhaji Usman Baba Alkali to attend the sacred oath taking ceremony in Abuja.” It described this as “a desecration of the constitution and is a very bad sign of how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may disrespect the rulings of courts of competent authority as recognised by section 6 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The rights group recalled that Justice Riman had in the suit marked FHC/AWK/CS/58/2023, made an order restraining Usman Alkali from further parading himself as the Inspector General of Police of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or exercising any form of command or control over the Nigeria Police Force.

It recalled: “The court also granted an order mandating the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to immediately convene a meeting for members of the Nigeria Police Council for the purpose of appointing a new Inspector-General of Police capable of holding the office for the fixed term of four years unhindered by Section 18 (8) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020 and also in line with the provision of Section 7 of the Nigeria Police Act.

“The removal order followed a suit filed by one Okechukwu Nwafor against the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Usman Baba Alkali; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; and Nigeria Police Council, 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

“The Originating Summons was brought pursuant to sections 2015 and 216 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), sections 7 and 18 (8) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020.

“In the judgement delivered on May 19, which was sighted by our correspondent, the court declared that “by a community reading of the provisions of Sections 215 (a) and 216 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), Sections 7 (2) & (6) and 18 (8) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, the appointment of the 2nd Defendant (Alkali) is unlawful and invalid, the 2nd Defendant not being a person capable of fulfilling the mandatory requirement of tenure of office needed to hold the office of the Inspector General of Police and/or the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) having not been complied with.

“More so, the court made a declaration that “the 2nd Defendant (Alkali) is not qualified to hold the office of the Inspector General of Police for the sole reason that doing so will lead to absurdity which will amount to a complete breach and total disregard for the clear and unambiguous provision of Section 7 (6) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020.

“Also granted by Justice Riman was a declaration that the President has no power, whatsoever, to extend the condition for retirement of a Police officer as contained in Section 18 (8) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020.

“In the judgement, Justice Riman stated that, “I have carefully considered submission of both counsel. The Defendant’s counsel referred to his paragraph 4 to 7 where it was averred as follows: “That it is a fact that a Federal High Court Abuja Division per Hon. Justice A. K Mohammed and Hon. Justice J. O. Omotosho have determined the issue of interpretation of section 216 of the 1999 Constitution, Section 7 (3) (@) and 18 (8) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020 as it relate to remaining in office as the Inspector General of Police despite having retired as a Police Officer in the unreported cases of MAXWELL MPENA VS. THE PRESIDNT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA 23 or with suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/106/2021 and MICHAEL SAM IDOKO AND NIGERIA POLICE FORCE & ORS in suit no: FHC/ABI/CS/106/2021 respectively.

“ “I must observe that the said judgements are not placed for examination in the counter affidavit or filed in Court which is necessary to guide this Court on the issue canvassed before the Court on the said suits.

“ “Section 215 (1) (6) of the Constitution provides that the President shall appoint the Inspector-General of Police from serving members of the Nigeria Police Force on the advice of the Nigeria Police Council (NPC), which comprises of the President, Governors, Chairman of the Police Commission and the Inspector General of Police.

“ “See also Section 7 (3) of the Police Act, 2020. The Inspector General of Police tenure shall come to an end in February, 2020, four years from February 2021, by March 1, 2023, the 2nd Defendant was 60 years old, and two weeks later, marked 35 years he entered in the Nigeria Police Force” the court held.”

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