The Silence That Exposed The Conspiracy Against Egbetokun -By Adewole Kehinde

For months, a coordinated campaign of calumny was unleashed against former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

From sensational headlines to social media propaganda, the objective was obvious: tarnish the reputation of a man whose professional career in policing spanned decades of dedicated service to Nigeria.

Today, however, the silence from those same voices has exposed the conspiracy for what it truly was.

One of the loudest voices in that campaign was Omoyele Sowore and his media platform, Sahara Reporters.

The moment Egbetokun attained the age of 60, Sowore suddenly branded him an “illegal IGP,” despite not being a police officer, a constitutional authority, or the President who appointed him.

Nigeria is governed by laws, not by media activism or personal opinions. The law regarding the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police was very clear.

Section 18(8A) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020, as amended by the Nigeria Police Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was specifically introduced to secure the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police. Under Section 7(6) of the Principal Act, the IGP is entitled to a four-year tenure. The newly introduced Section 18(8A) further clarified that once appointed, an IGP must complete the statutory tenure irrespective of retirement rules relating to age or years of service.

Interestingly, this amendment became law in July 2024, before Egbetokun attained the age of 60 in September 2024. That fact alone destroyed the narrative being pushed by those desperate to manufacture illegality around his office.

What remains even more revealing is that despite all the noise, outrage, and daily media attacks, Sowore never went to court to challenge Egbetokun’s tenure. This is particularly striking because the Federal High Court in Abuja practically became a second home to him due to his frequent appearances in various matters.

If the former IGP was truly “illegal,” why was there no legal challenge?

The answer is simple: those behind the attacks understood that the law did not support their propaganda.

Even more interesting is the current silence surrounding the present Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, who reportedly clocked 60 on April 13, 2026. Sowore openly declared during an interview at the Federal High Court, Abuja, that he would also begin calling Disu an “illegal IGP.”

Yet, as of May 17, 2026, that threat has remained empty rhetoric.

That silence has unintentionally exposed the selective outrage and hidden agenda that characterized the attacks against Egbetokun.

Today, former IGP Egbetokun appears more relaxed and peaceful in retirement. Suddenly, there are no more fabricated police documents circulating online. No more orchestrated allegations. No more manufactured scandals. The fake narratives have evaporated because the mission they served has ended.

But history has a way of exposing conspiracies.

The Holy Bible says in Proverbs 24:8: “He who plots evil will be called a schemer.” It further warns in Proverbs 26:27: “Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.”

These verses perfectly capture what transpired.

Many of the malicious allegations levelled against Egbetokun have since collapsed under scrutiny, proving to be nothing more than lies carefully designed to destroy the image of a professional police officer who dedicated his life to national service.

No public officer is above criticism, and constructive scrutiny remains essential in any democracy. However, there is a clear difference between accountability and a deliberate campaign of character assassination driven by personal or political motives.

Now retired, Egbetokun can enjoy the peace that comes with a clear conscience and years of service rendered to his nation. More importantly, Nigeria still needs experienced professionals like him. His policing experience, professionalism, and strategic expertise remain valuable national assets that can still contribute meaningfully to the country’s security architecture and public service development.

In the end, truth has a stubborn way of surviving propaganda.

Adewole Kehimde is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja. E-mail: kennyadewole@gmail.com X; kennyadewole GSM: 08166240846