Reforms Triggered Attacks on Former IGP Kayode Egbetokun, Security Expert Claims

A security analyst and retired Commissioner of Police, Tajudeen Oladele, has alleged that the criticisms directed at former Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun were largely fueled by interests threatened by reforms he implemented in the Nigeria Police Force.

Oladele said that upon taking office, Egbetokun confronted the issue of widespread manipulation of service records within the police.

According to him, some officers allegedly paid bribes to alter their records in order to extend their years in service beyond the statutory retirement limit.

The former police chief, he said, immediately stopped the practice and initiated investigations to identify those responsible.

“He didn’t just stop the practice. He fished out the culprits and forwarded their names to the Police Service Commission for proper disciplinary action, and they were all removed from the system,” Oladele stated.

He also revealed that a separate controversy involved a group of cadet force entrants who relied on a judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria to justify remaining in service beyond their statutory years.

However, investigations later revealed that the judgment relied on a signal allegedly issued from the Office of the Force Secretary through the Nigeria Police Force Sokoto State Command, which was later found to be fabricated.

“Our investigation confirmed that no such signal emanated from the Office of the Force Secretary. Even the version said to have been relayed by the Sokoto Command and tendered in court by the group was also found to be fabricated,” he explained.

Oladele said the outcome of the investigation was submitted to the Police Service Commission, which disciplined the officers implicated.

He added that Egbetokun’s commitment to internal discipline was a defining feature of his leadership.

“We cannot effectively enforce the law if we fail to enforce discipline within our own ranks,” he said.

The expert alleged that some wealthy individuals affected by the disciplinary actions funded media campaigns and circulated misleading reports to tarnish the former police chief’s reputation.

“It was clearly a case of corruption fighting back,” Oladele remarked.

He further claimed that resentment also came from groups opposed to changes to the Nigeria Police Act, which granted Egbetokun a four-year tenure.

According to him, some senior officers who hoped to succeed him as Inspector-General joined efforts to undermine his leadership.

Oladele also accused elements associated with the Take It Back Movement and organisers of the End Bad Governance Protest of spreading negative narratives against the police.

“They boasted that the #EndSARS protest would be child’s play and even referenced the 2024 mass protests in Kenya,” he said.

He insisted that the police acted lawfully in managing the demonstrations.

“He did everything lawful to stop them on the two major occasions and subsequent attempts. Considering the country’s socioeconomic fragility at the time, we believed it was in the overall interest of Nigerians,” he said.

Despite the controversies, Oladele said the former police chief remained focused on reforms.

“In spite of the media wars, he remained focused. He is proud of what he achieved to advance policing in Nigeria in the interest of the silent majority of Nigerians,” he added.

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