Kayode Egbetokun has resigned from his position as the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
A source in the presidency told Channels Television that Egbetokun resigned from the position on Tuesday.
Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, later confirmed Egbetokun’s resignation.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has accepted the resignation of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, following the submission of his letter citing pressing family considerations,” Onanuga said in a statement on Tuesday evening.
Tinubu thanked the ex-IGP for his “decades of distinguished service to the Nigeria Police Force and the nation”.
“The President acknowledged his dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to strengthening internal security architecture during his tenure,” he said.
Following the resignation, the ex-Lagos governor approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu to serve as Acting Inspector-General of Police with immediate effect.
The President is confident that AIG Disu’s experience, operational depth, and demonstrated leadership capacity will provide steady and focused direction for the Nigeria Police Force during this critical period.
“In compliance with the provisions of the Police Act 2020, President Tinubu will convene a meeting of the Nigeria Police Council shortly to formally consider the appointment of AIG Disu as substantive Inspector-General of Police, after which his name will be transmitted to the Senate for confirmation,” the statement read.
Tinubu appointed Egbetokun as the 22nd Inspector-General of Police on June 19, 2023.
READ ALSO: Letter Confirms IGP’s Four-Year Tenure, To Remain In Office Till 2027
The Nigeria Police Council confirmed his substantive appointment on October 31 of the same year.
Upon his appointment, Egbetokun promised to “chase away” criminals in Nigeria.
“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,” he said.
He replaced Usman Baba, who was appointed as the Inspector General of Police by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021.
Born on 4th September, 1964 from the Egbado South Local Government Area of Ogun State, Egbetokun enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet ASP (Course 16) on March 3, 1990.
The latter part of Egbetokun’s tenure was marked by controversy over his extended stay in office, which drew public criticism.
Under Section 18(8) of the Police Act 2020, Egbetokun, who was born on September 4, 1964, was expected to retire in September 2024 upon attaining the age of 60.
But his tenure extended beyond the mandatory retirement limits of 60 years of age or 35 years of service, prompting sustained criticism from civil society groups, among others.
Critics argued that the extension breached established police service regulations and weakened institutional discipline.
However, the police maintained at the time that the development did not amount to an extension but was a confirmation that he would complete the four-year tenure stated in his original letter of appointment.
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 the letter of appointment.
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