Kingsley Obot
Fresh uncertainty has emerged within Nigeria’s security establishment following claims by former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore that Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has been removed from office.
Sowore, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the platform of the African Action Congress (AAC), alleged on Tuesday that Egbetokun was quietly replaced by a senior officer currently serving at the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID) in Lagos. He, however, did not present official documentation to support the claim.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Presidency nor the Nigeria Police Force had issued a formal statement confirming or denying the development.
Efforts to obtain clarification from the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful. Calls to his mobile phone went unanswered.
Online Report Alleges Presidential Directive
Meanwhile, online platform SaharaReporters reported that President Bola Tinubu had directed Egbetokun to begin handing over, signalling the end of his tenure.
Citing unnamed senior police officers and officials within the Police Service Commission, the publication reported that Assistant Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu, who oversees the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex in Alagbon, Lagos, is expected to succeed him.
According to the report, Egbetokun was summoned to the Presidential Villa and instructed to commence the transition process. It also alleged that some officers at the Force Headquarters reacted positively to the news. However, these claims remain unverified by official sources.
Background of Tenure Debate
Egbetokun’s leadership has been subject to sustained public scrutiny, particularly regarding the legality of his continued stay in office. Critics, including Sowore, have argued that he should have retired upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60.
President Tinubu appointed Egbetokun as acting Inspector-General of Police in October 2023, with the appointment taking effect on October 31, 2023, pending confirmation by the National Assembly.
Amid the controversy, the Federal Government supported an amendment to the Police Act granting a single four-year term to an Inspector-General of Police, irrespective of age or years of service. The legislative change paved the way for Egbetokun’s tenure to run until October 2027.
Beyond the tenure debate, allegations of favoritism, disputed promotions, and financial impropriety have trailed his administration. The police authorities have consistently denied any wrongdoing.
SaharaReporters previously reported on alleged rapid promotions involving a senior officer said to be close to the IGP, as well as claims that ₦100 million from Anambra State’s security vote was traced to an account reportedly linked to his son. The allegations sparked public debate and legal disputes.
In response, police authorities initiated legal action against Sowore and SaharaReporters over reports describing Egbetokun as an “illegal IGP.” Court orders were subsequently obtained restraining further publications concerning the police chief and members of his family.
Awaiting Official Word
The continued silence from both the Presidency and the Nigeria Police Force has fueled speculation across political and security circles.
If officially confirmed, any leadership transition at the top of the police hierarchy would have significant implications for institutional stability and ongoing reform debates.
For now, stakeholders and observers await formal clarification from the appropriate authorities.