Startling details have surfaced regarding the directive issued by Bola Tinubu ordering former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to proceed on retirement.
Investigations revealed that during his leadership of the Nigeria Police Force, monthly allocations designated for administrative, operational, and logistical activities of several state police commands were allegedly not disbursed for extended periods.
Funding Gaps Amid Rising Insecurity
According to insiders, Egbetokun had repeatedly assured the President that criminal elements would be apprehended once specific operational necessities were provided. Financial support was subsequently released to meet those needs. However, within days of such releases, fresh violent attacks and abductions reportedly occurred, creating embarrassment at the highest level of government.
States including Kaduna, Niger, Kwara, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Adamawa witnessed disturbing security breaches that were said to have deeply concerned the President.
Discovery of Allocation Irregularities
Determined not to ignore the worsening situation, discreet inquiries were allegedly initiated to understand why state Commissioners of Police appeared ineffective in countering criminal threats. It was during this quiet probe that authorities discovered that several commands had not received their statutory monthly allocations.
The revelation that funds meant for these allocations were available yet allegedly withheld reportedly angered President Tinubu, ultimately leading to the instruction that Egbetokun should resign.
Dispute Over AIG Tunji Disu’s Removal
Another episode said to have displeased the President involved the reassignment of then Assistant Inspector-General, Olatunji Disu, from his role overseeing the Special Protection Force Unit (SPFU). At the time, Disu was directly responsible for executing the presidential directive ordering the withdrawal of police officers from VIP protection duties. He reportedly issued a memo to implement the directive, but the process was obstructed by a Deputy Inspector-General senior to him.
When the matter escalated to IGP Egbetokun, he reportedly ordered Disu’s removal from the SPFU and replaced him with a coursemate. The President later became aware of this development and directed that Disu be reinstated, while the replacement officer was placed on administrative leave, having only three months remaining in service before retirement.
Despite that directive, Disu was later redeployed to the FCID Annex in Lagos — a move interpreted in some quarters as an assertion of authority that effectively distanced him from direct presidential oversight.
Controversy Over Special Promotions
Concerns were also raised over the alleged misuse of special promotion privileges under Egbetokun’s tenure. Sources claimed that rapid advancements were granted to certain officers without the standard examinations, qualifications, or required years of service.
Within a relatively short period, some officers reportedly received three promotions, while more experienced and academically qualified colleagues stagnated due to age-on-rank limitations. This situation allegedly eroded morale within the Force.
An example cited involved the deployment of two Inspectors of Police to serve as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) and Chief Security Officer (CSO) to a sitting governor. Ordinarily, officers holding the ranks of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) or Superintendent of Police (SP) are expected to occupy such roles. However, the two Inspectors reportedly secured accelerated promotions to DSP and SP within three years, bypassing required exams and experience benchmarks. Meanwhile, some of their contemporaries allegedly remained at lower ranks.
Sources suggested that this pattern weakened institutional confidence and created dissatisfaction among personnel, raising concerns about long-term stability within the Force.
Lobbying Within Senior Ranks
Following the appointment of Disu as Acting IGP, reports indicate that some of the 39 officers senior to him — including certain Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs) and Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) — have reportedly engaged the Presidency, National Assembly, and the Police Service Commission in efforts to remain in service and collaborate under his leadership.
While some senior officers have vacated their offices, others reportedly continue to report for duty pending formal directives from the new Acting IGP.
Observers have questioned how members of the former management team, who were involved in major policy decisions, would adjust to operating under Disu’s command.
Appointment of Acting IGP Disu
Last Tuesday, Olatunji Disu was appointed Acting Inspector-General of Police following Egbetokun’s resignation. Although the Presidency publicly cited family reasons for the departure, insiders maintain that the former IGP was summoned to the Presidential Villa and directed to step down.
Egbetokun had been appointed the 22nd Inspector-General of Police on June 19, 2023, shortly after President Tinubu’s inauguration, succeeding Usman Alkali Baba, whose tenure had earlier been extended under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Acting IGP Disu, aged 59 and a native of Lagos Island, joined the Nigeria Police Force on May 18, 1992. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English Education from Lagos State University, as well as master’s degrees in Public Administration and in Criminology, Security, and Legal Psychology.
The Police Council meeting scheduled for Monday, March 2, 2026, is expected to confirm Disu as the 23rd Indigenous Inspector-General of Police in accordance with the Police Act 2020. Upon confirmation, his name will be transmitted to the President for formal ratification.
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