Photo caption: Kayode Egbetokun. Photo credit: Nigeria Police Force
President Bola Tinubu has removed Kayode Egbetokun from office as the Inspector-General of Police.
Presidential aides, who spoke in confidence, comfirmed the development to our correspondents on Tuesday.
Tinubu was said to have asked Egbetokun to step aside during a meeting they had at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday.
“Yes. Egbetokun is gone,” one of the presidential aides said he was asked to comment on the development.
“A formal statement is being prepared as we speak. The announcement will be made soon,” another aide said.
Efforts to obtain confirmation from the Force spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to him had not yet been responded to.
Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga also did not take his calls when contacted.
Sources within the police hierarchy hinted that a successor may have been identified, although no official statement had been issued as of the time of filing this report.
One source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that Tunji Disu had been contacted in connection with the position.
“He has been contacted, but we are all waiting for the official confirmation, which should come later in the day,” the source said.
Egbetokun was appointed on June 19, 2023, by President Bola Tinubu.
In 2024, the IG’s continued stay in office sparked widespread controversy after Egbetokun officially reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 on September 4.
However, his stay in office was extended following the amendment to the Police Act.
