Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has resigned from office following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to multiple reports, presidential sources said President Tinubu instructed Egbetokun to step down on Monday night during a meeting at the Presidential Villa. He subsequently submitted his resignation letter on Tuesday morning.
A source in the presidency confirmed that Egbetokun resigned on Tuesday. However, as at the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force had yet to issue an official statement on the development.
President Tinubu appointed Egbetokun as the 22nd Inspector-General of Police on 19 June 2023, replacing Usman Baba, who was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021. The Nigeria Police Council confirmed Egbetokun’s substantive appointment on 31 October 2023.
Upon his appointment, Egbetokun had pledged to tackle criminality across the country, stating: “I will tell you that right now, I feel like a Tiger inside of me, ready to chase away all the criminals in Nigeria. And some other time, I feel like a lion in me, ready to devour all the internal enemies of Nigeria.”
Born on 4 September 1964 in Egbado South Local Government Area of Ogun State, Egbetokun enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet ASP (Course 16) on 3 March 1990.
Under Section 18(8) of the Police Act 2020, Egbetokun, who turned 60 on 4 September 2024, was expected to retire upon attaining the mandatory retirement age. Civil service rules also provide for retirement after 35 years of service.
In July 2024, the National Assembly passed the Police Act (Amendment) Bill to allow a person appointed as Inspector-General of Police to remain in office “until the end of the term stipulated in his appointment letter”.
The amendment followed a Bill forwarded by President Tinubu to both chambers of the National Assembly. Based on the amended law, Egbetokun’s tenure was expected to run until 2027, marking the completion of a four-year term.
However, the development had sparked controversy over whether the tenure extension was appropriate.
Critics such as activist Omoyele Sowore argued that it breached established police service regulations, while the police authorities maintained that it was not an extension but a confirmation that he would complete the four-year tenure stated in his original letter of appointment.
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