Sowore claims removal of IGP Egbetokun, police silent
Omoyele Sowore has claimed that Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has been removed and replaced, although there is no official confirmation from the Presidency or the Nigeria Police Force.
Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 election, stated on Tuesday that Kayode Egbetokun has been removed as Inspector-General of Police. He alleged that Egbetokun was replaced by a senior officer currently serving at the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID) in Lagos, but did not provide official proof to back up this claim.
As of this report, neither the Presidency nor the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the development. When contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, did not answer his calls. He later sent a message asking for a text message to be forwarded to him, promising to respond, but had not replied by press time.
Sowore has repeatedly questioned Egbetokun’s tenure, arguing that the police chief should have retired at the age of 60. Bola Tinubu appointed Egbetokun as acting Inspector-General of Police in October 2023, pending approval from the National Assembly, with the appointment becoming effective on October 31, 2023.
Following debates over the tenure, the Federal Government proposed an amendment to the Police Act that limits an Inspector-General of Police to a single four-year term, regardless of age or years of service.
