The President, Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), Dr Kehinde Prince Taiga has threatened to sue the Federal Government and the Acting Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun over their failure to retire senior officers whose ranks supersede those of the newly appointed service chiefs and IGP.
In an interview with Emerald News, Dr Taiga maintained that it is traditional, logical as well as in line with law and principle for all officers who rank senior to newly appointed security helmsmen, to proceed on compulsory retirement, in order to give room for effective administrative running of the country’s security architecture.
He said, “Traditionally, all officers who rank senior to the new service chiefs are supposed to go on compulsory retirement, so that they (security chiefs) who have been put in charge, will be able to tackle the issue of insecurity as well as protect lives and property without any form of encumbrance or interference by anyone.”
Taiga therefore gave the Federal Government and the Acting IGP a 7-day ultimatum to compulsorily retire all the affected officers or face legal action.
“I am giving the Federal Government and the Acting Inspector General of Police seven days to compulsorily retire all the officers who are superior in rank to the newly appointed security chiefs, or I will sue them for failure to do so,” he said.
According to Taiga, the immediate retirement of the affected officers will give room for promotion of others and recruitment of new personnel, thereby reducing unemployment and so helping to salvage the ugly security situation in the country.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had on June 19, retired all the former service chiefs as part of his reforms in the security sector. The President also approved the immediate replacement of the service chiefs with new ones.
While acknowledging as imperative, the moves being taken by the Defense Headquarters, to retire all military officers whose ranks supercede those of the service chiefs, Prince Taiga however expressed worry over the silence being exhibited by the Nigeria Police Force, in relation to the matter.
Emerald News recalls that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had through a memo dated June 26 and signed by Major General Y. Yahaya on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, ordered military officers whose ranks supersede those of the newly appointed service chiefs to voluntarily retire on or before July 3, 2023.
According to the memo, the directive was aimed at upholding the principles of hierarchy in the Military as senior officers cannot take directive from their subordinates in the profession.
The CDHR President, however called on the Federal Government to ensure that retired officers get all entitlements due to them, in accordance with the principles of justice and fairness.
The human rights activist further charged the new security chiefs especially the acting IGP to stem the rising cases of human rights abuse and police brutality being perpetuated by some officers of the law across the country.
He also advocated improved synergy among all security agencies as well as better engagement with community members, in order to rid the country of criminal elements.
