Renowned lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi has delivered a scathing critique of Nigeria’s legal and political landscape, describing it as a system riddled with “lies and contradictions” where laws “rarely matter” in governance. S
Speaking on the controversial tenure extension of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Newscentral’s Soni Irabor Live on Saturday, Farotimi argued that the decision exposes Nigeria’s disregard for the rule of law.
“The Inspector General of Police’s position is illegal. He has exceeded his term in office. But the presidency tells you that the law does not matter.”
Farotimi said that rather than following constitutional provisions, Nigeria operates under a system where presidential pronouncements override established laws.
“The president has decreed, and it has been as decreed,” he stated, highlighting the government’s failure to enforce its regulations.”
His argument revolves around the perceived erosion of democratic principles, likening the president’s decision to a decree that effectively supersedes constitutional provisions.
“That the decree of the president supersedes the constitution or the law in Nigeria is just another one of the many sickening realities of our existence,” he noted.
“If the president’s word is superior to the clear wordings of the law, the existential reality is that he has decreed something outside of the law.”
His concerns extended beyond the tenure extension of the Inspector General of Police, painting a broader picture of Nigeria’s governance. He questioned why the Police Service Commission had not contested the apparent violation of retirement laws, adding that the Commission has not denied that the Inspector General should have retired.
His remarks underscore a growing public frustration over legal double standards in Nigeria, where selective application of the law has become normalised.
