Lawyer Maxwell Opara Withdraws Suit Against Former IGP Kayode Egbetokun Following Resignation

Human rights lawyer Maxwell Opara, based in Abuja, has withdrawn his legal challenge against the tenure extension of former Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun after the police chief resigned.

Opara informed Justice Umar Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday that the matter had become academic with Egbetokun’s departure from office.

The suit, originally filed on September 10, 2024, named Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Police Council, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Federal Civil Service Commission as respondents.

In the originating summons, Opara had requested that the court declare that Egbetokun had either reached the compulsory retirement age of 60 under the Public Service Rules or completed 35 years of pensionable service. He also sought a ruling that an appointment terminated by law cannot be revived through later amendments, and that only serving police officers are eligible to hold the position of Inspector-General of Police.

He had further asked the court to prevent Egbetokun from continuing to act as Inspector-General.

When the case was called, Opara told the court he was withdrawing the suit, noting that the resignation rendered the issues raised in the suit moot.