Former inspector-general of police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has said media attacks against him were linked to reforms he introduced in the Nigeria Police Force.
Former IGP Egbetokun said some individuals affected by disciplinary actions supported media campaigns against him during his time in office.
Security expert and retired commissioner of police Tajudeen Oladele made this known while recounting the former police chief’s account of his tenure.
According to him, Egbetokun said one of the issues he faced after assuming office was falsification of service records by some officers.
He said some officers paid money to alter official records to extend their years of service beyond the legal limit.
Egbetokun said his administration stopped the practice and began investigations which identified those involved.
“We didn’t just stop the practice. We fished out the culprits and forwarded their names to the Police Service Commission for disciplinary action, and they were removed from the system,” he said.
The former police chief also spoke about a case involving a group of cadet force entrants who sought to remain in service beyond their statutory period based on a judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.
Egbetokun said investigations later showed that the judgment relied on a signal said to have come from the Office of the Force Secretary and transmitted through the Sokoto State Police Command.
“Our investigation confirmed that no such signal emanated from the Office of the Force Secretary. The version said to have been relayed by the Sokoto Command and presented in court by the group was also fabricated,” he said.
Egbetokun said several allegations and reports were circulated to undermine his leadership during the period.
He also said some senior officers who hoped to become inspector-general joined the campaign after amendments to the Nigeria Police Act allowed him to remain in office for a four-year tenure.
The former police chief further accused people linked to the Take It Back Movement of spreading negative narratives about him and the police.
He said the group planned to use the EndSARS protests to cause destruction and push for a change of government.
Egbetokun said the police acted within the law to prevent violence during the protests.
“In spite of the media wars, I remained focused. I am proud of what we achieved to advance policing in Nigeria,” he said.
