Iwitnesslive has reliably learnt that the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, may not be confirmed as substantive Inspector General of Police by President Bola Tinubu.
Egebtokun, a former Chief Security Officer for Tinubu when the President was Governor of Lagos State, was appointed the acting Inspector General of Police on Monday. He replaced Usman Baba who should have retired in March 2023.
However, facts have emerged that Osuntokun may remain in an acting capacity until his retirement on September 4, 2024, when he will clock 60 years of age.
Nigeria’s civil service rule stipulates that civil servants are mandated to retire following the attainment of age 60 or having spent 35 years in service, depending on whichever comes first.
However, the Police Act, 2020 stipulates a four-year tenure for an IG and Egbetokun’s appointment does not meet the requirement of the law.
Sources in the ruling All Progressives Congress who are close to the President’s men revealed that Tinubu won’t follow the path of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who appointed erstwhile IGP, Baba, despite having less than two years left in service.
“Egbetokun will leave on or before his retirement age; Mr Presidednt is not ready to break the law and he has not offended any provision of the Nigerian law by naming an acting IGP. I can confirm to you that Egbetokun is just a stop-gap appointment which will pave the way for a substantive IGP. You know that the acting IGP and the President have come a long way and I know that Asiwaju has just handed Egbetokun an opportunity to reach the pinnacle of his career and reward loyalty over the years but that is not to say that he doesn’t deserve it.,” a very reliable source revealed.
Iwitnesslive can also report that the President may have breached the law after facts emerged that he unilaterally appointed the acting IGP without recourse to the Police Council.
The Police Act, 2020 states that the Police Council comprising the President, Governors of 36 states of the federation, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission and the sitting Inspector General of the Police would meet and consider the candidates and the Police Council will advise the President who will then appoint one of the assessed officers based on the recommendation of the Police Council. The President is also expected to go through the same process in the removal of an IGP.
Born on Sept. 4, 1964, in Erinja, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, Egbetokun enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on March 3, 1990, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police.
In 1999, he was appointed Chief Security Officer to Tinubu when the President was the Governor of Lagos State. He served in that capacity for eight years when he forged a strong bond with Tinubu.
He served as the Commander, of Rapid Response Squad, Lagos, Squadron Commander, Mopol 5, Benin, Benin City, Officer-in-Charge, Anti-Fraud Unit, FCT Command, Abuja; Chief Superintendent of Police, Administration, Lagos State Command Head Quarters, Ikeja; Area Commander, Osogbo, Osun State Command; and Area Commander, Gusau, Zamfara State Command, among others. Commandant of the Police Training School in Ikeja, Lagos, Deputy Commandant of the Police College in Ikeja, CP Servicom at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, CP Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD), and CP of Kwara State Command. Before his present promotion and posting, he served as CP (Admin) Medical in Falomo, Lagos. He has also undergone several local and international courses to enhance his skills and knowledge.
Egbetokun graduated from the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in June 1987; and lectured Mathematics briefly at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, before his enlistment into the Police Force.
His other academic qualifications include an MSC in Engineering Analysis, also from the University of Lagos, Akoka, 1996; a Post-Graduate Diploma in Petroleum Economics from Delta State University, Abraka, 2000; and an MBA from Lagos State University, Ojo, 2004.
