The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general election, Omoyele Sowore, on Tuesday alleged that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has been removed from office.
Sowore further claimed that Egbetokun had been replaced by a senior officer currently serving at the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID) in Lagos. However, he did not present any official confirmation to substantiate the allegation.
As of the time this report was filed, neither the Presidency nor the Nigeria Police Force had issued any statement confirming such a development.
Attempts to obtain clarification from the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful, as calls placed to his phone went unanswered.
He later sent a message requesting that a text message be forwarded to him, assuring that he would respond. However, as at press time, no response had been received.
Sowore has consistently questioned Egbetokun’s continued stay in office, maintaining that the police chief should have stepped down upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60.
President Bola Tinubu appointed Egbetokun as acting Inspector-General of Police in October 2023, pending confirmation by the National Assembly. The appointment took effect on October 31, 2023.
Amid controversy surrounding the IGP’s tenure, the Federal Government backed an amendment to the Police Act introducing a single four-year term for an Inspector-General of Police, regardless of age or years of service.
The amendment permits Egbetokun to remain in office until October 2027.