Why Egbetokun was removed as IGP

2026-03-02 - 14:37

...Some state police commands did not receive monthly allocations for six months. ...The Presidency ordered him to return Disu to the SPU after he was removed for implementing the withdrawal of police personnel from VIPs. ...Alleged misuse of special promotions, particularly for officers who did not merit them. ...Thirty-nine senior officers are reportedly lobbying Acting IGP Disu to allow them to remain in office By Kingsley Omonobi ABUJA — New revelations have emerged surrounding the resignation of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, following reports that several state police commands did not receive their monthly allocations for months, among other administrative and operational lapses. Sources told Vanguard that President Bola Tinubu, alarmed by the surge in kidnappings, community attacks, and killings across states such as Kaduna, Niger, Kwara, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Adamawa, sought to investigate why police commands appeared ineffective despite federal support. It was discovered that monthly allocations for operational, administrative, and logistics purposes were not remitted to some commands for six to seven months, undermining the capacity of police officers to respond to security threats. “There is no way non-remittance of monthly allocation will not affect the running of the Police commands,” a source said. The anomaly reportedly frustrated the President, prompting the directive for Egbetokun to proceed on retirement. Another incident that reportedly irked the Presidency involved the removal of AIG Tunji Disu from the Special Protection Unit (SPU). Disu, who was tasked with implementing the withdrawal of police personnel from VIPs, was replaced by a coursemate of Egbetokun. This move, perceived as dissent, led the President to order Disu’s reinstatement to SPU, while the coursemate was placed on administrative leave. Egbetokun, however, reportedly redeployed Disu to FCID Lagos, further escalating tensions with the Presidency. The former IGP’s tenure was also reportedly marred by abuse of special promotions, with officers receiving accelerated promotions without requisite qualifications, exams, or experience. Sources highlighted that such practices had demoralized personnel and disrupted merit-based career progression within the force. “Within a few years, some officers got promoted three times without the necessary qualifications, while their peers remained at lower ranks,” a source said, adding that this issue dampened morale and created administrative challenges for the force. Meanwhile, indications have emerged that some of the 39 senior officers, including DIGs and AIGs senior to acting IGP Disu, are lobbying the Presidency, National Assembly, and Police Service Commission to retain their positions and continue working under Disu. Acting IGP Olatunji Disu, appointed last week following Egbetokun’s resignation, joined the police in May 1992. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English Education from Lagos State University and master’s degrees in Public Administration and Criminology, Security, and Legal Psychology. Disu’s confirmation as the 23rd Indigenous IGP is expected following the upcoming Police Council meeting on March 2, 2026, in accordance with the Police Act 2020, after which the Presidency will send his name for ratification. Egbetokun, who was appointed the 22nd IGP on June 19, 2023, succeeded Alkali Baba, whose tenure ended in September 2023 after an extension granted by former President Buhari. The revelations paint a complex picture of operational lapses, internal disagreements, and administrative mismanagement that contributed to the former IGP’s exit and the swift appointment of Acting IGP Disu.