Destiny Ugorji
Fresh uncertainty has gripped Nigeria’s policing system following claims by former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore that Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has been removed from office.
Sowore, who flew the flag of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general election, alleged on Tuesday that Egbetokun had been quietly replaced by a senior officer currently serving at the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID) in Lagos. However, he did not provide official documentation to substantiate the claim.
As of press time, there was no formal statement from the Presidency or the Nigeria Police Force confirming the development, deepening speculation over the police chief’s status.
When contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, did not answer calls placed to his phone. He later sent a message requesting that a text be forwarded to him, assuring that he would respond. No reply had been received at the time this report was filed.
SaharaReporters Claims Tinubu Ordered Removal
Meanwhile, online news platform SaharaReporters reported that President Bola Tinubu had directed Egbetokun to prepare his handover notes, effectively ending his tenure.
According to senior police sources and officials within the Police Service Commission cited by the platform, Egbetokun is to be succeeded by Tunji Disu, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police overseeing the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex in Alagbon, Lagos.
One source claimed Egbetokun was summoned to the Presidential Villa and instructed to commence the transition process. The report further alleged that some officers at Police Headquarters expressed jubilation upon hearing the news.
However, these claims remain unverified by official government channels.
A Tenure Marked by Controversy
Egbetokun’s leadership has been dogged by controversy, particularly over the legality of his tenure. Critics, including Sowore, repeatedly argued that he ought to have exited office upon attaining 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 mounting debate over the IGP’s continued stay in office, the Federal Government sponsored an amendment to the Police Act providing for a single four-year term for an Inspector-General of Police, regardless of age or years of service. The amendment effectively cleared the way for Egbetokun to remain in office until October 2027.
Beyond tenure concerns, Egbetokun’s time in office was overshadowed by allegations of favoritism, questionable promotions, and financial impropriety—claims he and the police authorities have consistently denied.
SaharaReporters had previously published reports alleging 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 linked to his son. The reports triggered significant public debate and legal pushback.
Rather than permitting what critics described as an independent probe, police authorities initiated legal action against Sowore and SaharaReporters over publications referring to Egbetokun as an “illegal IGP.” Court orders were subsequently issued restraining further reports concerning him and members of his family.
Observers said the legal battles intensified perceptions of an embattled police chief relying on court injunctions to counter allegations instead of addressing them through open investigation.
Silence Fuels Speculation
As speculation swirls, the absence of an official statement from the Presidency or the Nigeria Police Force has only heightened tension within political and security circles.
If confirmed, the development would mark a dramatic turn in the leadership of Nigeria’s police force and potentially reset the ongoing debate over tenure, institutional accountability, and reform.
For now, the nation awaits formal clarification.