EXCLUSIVE: Police Service Commission Approves ‘Special Promotions’ For IGP Egbetokun’s Cronies, But Internal Uproar Delays Announcement

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the special promotion of 37 senior police officers handpicked by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, but internal uproar within the force has stalled the public announcement of the list, SaharaReporters has learnt.

SaharaReporters gathered that the promotions, largely considered controversial, have sparked ethnic and institutional tensions within the Nigeria Police Force.

Out of the 37 officers approved under “special consideration,” 30 are reportedly of Yoruba origin, reinforcing growing perceptions that IGP Egbetokun is running a regionally biased or “provincial” police leadership.

The development has caused unease across police formations, especially among officers who believe they were qualified for elevation but were bypassed on ethnic grounds.

“Out of the 37 newly promoted senior officers, 30 are Yorubas, and now the issue is how to pacify a fractured police force that already felt the IGP was running a provincial police force before making the controversial list public,” a top source said.

According to sources, suggestions have been made to release the list in batches to avoid backlash, but pressure is mounting on the PSC to go ahead and publish the entire list despite the ongoing internal discontent.

“There have been suggestions to release the list in batches to ease tensions within the police force, particularly among officers who were overlooked for promotion due to ethnic bias,” a source said.

“However, the Police Service Commission is under pressure to disregard the complaints and publish the entire list at once.”

Several of the promoted officers are said to be close associates of the IGP, either currently working with him on the 7th floor of the Force Headquarters in Abuja or longstanding allies from his previous postings.

Among the beneficiaries is the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, who has faced multiple petitions—reportedly from female officers—but whose complaints were allegedly dismissed by the PSC.

Also on the list are two Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) to the IGP and Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Fom Pam Joseph, who currently serves as Force Secretary.

AIG Joseph was appointed in February 2025, succeeding AIG Adetutu Rhoda Olofu, who was promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police.

On Monday, SaharaReporters reported that Egbetokun had submitted a list of more than 30 senior officers, who are his loyalists, to the PSC for special promotion.

SaharaReporters also reported that this had sparked a fresh controversy within the ranks, adding that among those recommended for elevation was Adejobi, who is being proposed for the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).

Others on the list include Egbetokun’s recently appointed Principal Staff Officer (PSO), DCP Ahmed Lateef, and several other aides considered loyal to the police chief. Lateef was appointed PSO in March 2025.

The development follows a recent decoration ceremony of newly promoted Commissioners of Police (CPs), Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), and other senior officers.

Critics within the force allege that key appointments and nominations for special promotion under Egbetokun have disproportionately favoured officers from the South-West, who are of Yoruba extraction.