ABUJA, NIGERIA — A security expert, retired Commissioner of Police Tajudeen Oladele, has shed light on the sustained media attacks against the immediate past Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, describing them as a pushback from entrenched interests resisting the sweeping reforms he introduced to sanitize the Nigeria Police Force.
According to Oladele, one of the earliest and most contentious challenges Egbetokun confronted upon assuming office was the widespread falsification of service records within the Force
. He explained that before his appointment, some officers allegedly paid money to manipulate their official records in order to extend their years of service beyond the statutory limit.
“Egbetokun’s administration halted the practice and launched investigations that uncovered those involved in the scheme. 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.
The security expert also disclosed another controversial issue involving a group of cadet force entrants who sought to remain in service beyond their statutory period by relying on a judgment of the National Industrial Court
. However, further investigation revealed that the court decision was based on a signal purportedly originating from the Office of the Force Secretary, which was later discovered to be fabricated.
Oladele alleged that some wealthy individuals affected by these disciplinary measures had been pooling resources to sponsor media campaigns aimed at discrediting Egbetokun, describing the situation as “corruption fighting back”.
The expert further noted that another group, unhappy with amendments to the Nigeria Police Act that enabled Egbetokun to serve a four-year tenure, also joined the campaign. This group allegedly included ambitious senior officers who believed they had a chance of becoming IGP if his reputation was damaged.
Additionally, Oladele accused elements linked to the “Take It Back Movement,” associated with the End Bad Governance protests, of sustaining negative narratives against the former police chief, claiming they sought to destabilize the country through mass demonstrations.
Despite the controversies and media attacks, Oladele maintained that Egbetokun remained focused on advancing policing reforms throughout his tenure in the interest of the silent majority of Nigerians.
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