Kayode Egbetokun Steps Down as Inspector General of Police Following Tinubu Directive, Names Replacement
Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has stepped down from his position following a directive issued by President Bola Tinubu, authoritative sources disclosed.
Senior officials who spoke to PulseNets revealed that the development followed a closed-door meeting between the president and the outgoing police chief at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday. According to multiple officials who reported to PulseNets, the decision was finalised after deliberations that lasted several hours.
Top government sources told PulseNets that Tunji Disu, currently serving as an Assistant Inspector General of Police, has been nominated as the new Inspector General of Police. The nomination is expected to be formalised after internal administrative procedures are concluded.
PulseNets learnt that preparations have commenced for a formal handover ceremony at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. Security officials confirmed to PulseNets that logistical arrangements are being concluded, although the presidency is yet to release an official statement confirming the transition.
Egbetokun was appointed as the 22nd Inspector General of Police in June 2023. His appointment was subsequently ratified by the Nigeria Police Council in October 2023, a move that solidified his leadership of the Nigeria Police Force.
At the time of his appointment, Egbetokun was approaching the mandatory retirement age of 60, a factor that triggered legal and political debates over the duration of his tenure. Legal analysts had questioned whether he would be able to complete a full term under existing statutory provisions.
In response to the controversy, the National Assembly amended the Police Act in 2024. The amendment provided that an Inspector General of Police could serve a full four-year tenure irrespective of age or years already spent in service.
Based on the revised legal framework, Egbetokun was projected to remain in office until October 2027.
However, his tenure attracted sustained public scrutiny, with civil society organisations and advocacy groups raising allegations of human rights violations during protests and coordinated security operations across several states. Critics argued that operational tactics under his leadership required greater accountability and reform.
Also Read: How Nigerian Police Under IGP Kayode Egbetokun Spent ₦104.9m Producing Officers’ Berets
As of press time, the presidency has not issued a formal statement confirming his resignation. Efforts to obtain comments from presidential and police spokespersons were unsuccessful.
A senior presidency source told PulseNets that an official announcement would be made later on Tuesday.
Further developments are expected as the transition process unfolds.
