EXCLUSIVE: Uproar In Nigerian Police Force As IGP Submits List Of Over 30 Loyalists For Special Promotion, Including Force PRO Adejobi

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has submitted a list of more than 30 senior officers, who are his loyalists, within the Nigeria Police Force to the Police Service Commission (PSC) for special promotion.

SaharaReporters learnt that this has sparked a fresh controversy within the ranks.

Among those recommended for elevation is the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, who is being proposed for the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).

“The IGP reportedly cited Adejobi’s ‘gallantry’ as justification for the promotion,” a top police source said.

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.

However, the fresh nominations have drawn sharp reactions within the force, particularly over what insiders describe as the IGP’s “provincial management style” and the growing perception of ethnic favouritism.

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.

“Already the new list is causing ruckus in an already fractured police force marred by the IGP’s management style that keeps mostly Yorubas in sensitive police formations,” a senior officer told SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity.

The Police Service Commission is currently reviewing the submitted list for possible approval.

Meanwhile, some of the newly confirmed Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) include Johnson Oluwole Adenola (formerly CP, Oyo State); Ako Benedict Gabriel (formerly CP, Anti-Fraud); Ahmadu Tijani Abdullahi (formerly CP, Jigawa); Emmanuel Adegbola Aina (Acting AIG, Intelligence); Omolara Ibidun Oloruntola; Hassan Abdu Yababet (formerly CP, Police College, Jos) and Bretet Emmanuel Simon (formerly CP, Taraba).

On July 21, SaharaReporters reported that the PSC had approved the promotion of 12 police commissioners to the rank of Assistant Inspectors General (AIGs).

The Commission also elevated 16 Deputy Commissioners to the rank of substantive Commissioners of Police and 27 Assistant Commissioners to the rank of Deputy Commissioners.

One Assistant Commissioner who was absent from the exercise was not promoted.

According to a press statement signed by the Commission’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, the PSC also approved the promotion of 145 Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs) to Assistant Commissioners.

These included general duty officers and specialists from various departments such as the Airwing, Medical Unit (Doctors, Dentists, Pharmacists, Lab Scientists, Physiotherapists, and Nurses), Priests, Aircraft Engineers, and others.

Additionally, 29 Superintendents of Police—all specialists in Information Technology, Works, and Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS)—were promoted to the rank of Chief Superintendent. Thirty-eight Deputy Superintendents (Specialists) were also promoted to Superintendent.

Egbetokun Doesn’t Know Much About Police Administration

Earlier on Monday, SaharaReporters reported that a former IGP, Usman Alkali Baba, had criticised the police contributory pension scheme, describing it as a failure that had not addressed the welfare needs of retired officers.

Then-President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him to replace Mohammed Adamu, who retired from the Nigeria Police Force in February 2021.

He was replaced by Egbetokun on June 19, 2023, by President Bola Tinubu.

In a video shared by ESET TV, Baba also questioned the administrative experience of the current Inspector General, Egbetokun, stating that much of Egbetokun’s career had been in field operations rather than core police administration.

He recalled that Egbetokun previously supported the controversial contributory pension system, even when widespread complaints were being raised about it.

Baba added that he has never personally discussed the pension issue with Egbetokun, nor has the current IGP sought his counsel on the matter.

He said, "Like, unfortunately the man who succeeded me (Egbetokun), he has not known much of what is police administration rather than operation because he has been on the field.

“There was a time he even supported the pension program and there was a lot of cry.”

When asked whether there was any forum where former Inspectors General and the current IGP met to discuss issues, Baba responded, “We have a forum but you know the IG’s office is a very busy office but it all depends on who is there and how he thinks it is important for him to level on experience.

“Like personally, he has never asked me for anything and I have never said anything to him.”

Pension Scheme Challenges Under Egbetokun

Regarding the issues with the police pension, Baba lamented that even some of his colleagues had not been paid their retirement benefits.

He said, “I told you we had a joint session of the National Assembly for public hearing and people came. We got people from outside the industry, inside the industry, the retired police officers, how they have been suffering.

“There are some of my colleagues that have not even gotten their retirement benefits up till today and there is this segregation. Like I’m getting my salary every month, and these are my colleagues whom we joined together, progressed together, and are not getting.

“Just last week, Isah, my PA (Personal Assistant), who retired seven months ago, was telling me that he had not gotten one kobo up till today.

“How do you expect performance, loyalty, commitment when you are afraid of retiring? And it is not like the military, where three to four months before you retire, the military will take you to Oshodi and start giving you training on what to do. This one, you work until you retire, the day you go.”