EX-IGP EGBETOKUN EXPLAINS WHY CERTAIN GROUPS ARE AFTER HIM
Read Time:2 Minute, 38 Second
By: Fasasi Hammad
Former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has revealed that persistent media attacks against his leadership were driven by entrenched interests opposed to the reforms he introduced to restructure and sanitize the Nigeria Police Force.
In reflecting on his tenure, Egbetokun said one of the earliest challenges he faced was the widespread falsification of service records within the Force.
According to him, prior to his appointment, some officers allegedly paid to manipulate their official records to extend their years of service beyond the statutory limit. His administration halted the practice and launched investigations to identify those involved.
“I didn’t just stop the practice. We identified the culprits, forwarded their names to the Police Service Commission for disciplinary action, and they were all removed from the system,” he said.
Egbetokun also addressed another contentious issue involving cadet force entrants who attempted to remain in service beyond their statutory period, citing a National Industrial Court judgment. Further investigation revealed that the court decision was based on a signal purportedly from the Office of the Force Secretary, allegedly relayed through the Sokoto State Command.
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“Our investigation confirmed that no such signal originated from the Force Secretary. Even the version presented by the Sokoto Command and submitted in court was fabricated,” he stated. The findings were submitted to the Police Service Commission, which disciplined the officers involved.
The former IGP emphasized that his insistence on internal discipline distinguished his administration from previous ones.
“We cannot effectively enforce the law if we fail to enforce discipline within our own ranks,” he said.
He alleged that some wealthy individuals affected by these disciplinary measures pooled resources to sponsor media campaigns aimed at discrediting him. Several fabricated allegations and misleading reports were circulated to undermine his leadership.
Egbetokun further revealed that another group opposed to amendments in the Nigeria Police Act, which allowed him a four-year tenure, also joined the campaign against him. This group included ambitious senior officers who believed damaging his reputation could advance their own chances of becoming IGP.
He also accused elements linked to the “Take It Back Movement” of fueling negative narratives against him and the police. Associated with organizers of the End Bad Governance Protest, the group allegedly sought to destabilize the country through mass demonstrations.
“They boasted that the #EndSARS protest would be child’s play and even referenced the 2024 mass protests in Kenya,” Egbetokun said. He maintained that the police acted lawfully to prevent violence and protect national stability during these protests.
“We did everything within the law to stop them on the two major occasions and during subsequent attempts. Considering the country’s socioeconomic fragility at the time, we believed it was in the best interest of Nigerians,” he added.
Despite the controversies and media attacks, Egbetokun said he remained focused on advancing policing reforms throughout his tenure.
“In spite of the media wars, I stayed focused. I am proud of what we achieved to improve policing in Nigeria for the benefit of the silent majority,” he concluded.
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