The legal challenge against former Kayode Egbetokun over his tenure as Inspector-General of Police has been withdrawn following his resignation from office.
Human rights lawyer Maxwell Opara, who filed the suit, informed the Federal High Court that the case had become academic after Egbetokun stepped down on February 24, citing personal and family reasons.
The suit had been filed on September 10, 2024, seeking declarations that Egbetokun had reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 and should not have continued in office.
Justice Umar Mohammed subsequently struck out the case on Opara’s application, noting that with the resignation, the matters raised no longer required judicial determination.
The original suit also named the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Police Council, the President, and the Federal Civil Service Commission as co-defendants.
Opara explained that while the case was withdrawn, he hoped the court’s guidance could prevent similar situations in the future, but legal precedent considers such post-resignation requests academic.
Egbetokun’s departure now clears the way for the appointment of Tunji Disu as Acting IGP, following presidential approval.
The development concludes a long-running dispute over the legitimacy of Egbetokun’s extended tenure in office.
