Mr Tunji Disu, an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), has reportedly replaced Mr Kayode Egbetokun as the new Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Mr Egbetokun resigned from the position on Tuesday after he was said to have held a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Monday night at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
President Tinubu appointed Mr Egebtokun as the 22nd IGP on June 19, 2023, with his appointment confirmed by the Nigeria Police Council on October 31, 2023.
Appointed as IGP at the age of 58, Mr Egbetokun was due for retirement on September 4, 2024, upon reaching the mandatory age of 60, but his tenure was extended by the President, creating controversies, which trailed him until his exit from the force today.
Although the police authorities are yet to comment on the matter or issue an official statement about his resignation, the move came amid reports suggesting that Mr Egbetokun has left the position.
Mr Egbetokun’s tenure was marred by a series of controversies; he recently initiated multiple charges against activist Mr Omoyele Sowore and his publication, SaharaReporters, after Mr Sowore publicly described him as an “illegal IGP.”
The dispute escalated into protracted legal battles, with the Federal High Court issuing injunctions restricting further publications relating to the former police chief and members of his family. Critics interpreted these court actions as attempts to stifle dissent and weaken press freedom.
His replacement, Mr Disu, was posted to oversee the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, some days ago.