By Ogochukwu Isioma
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has denied ordering the withdrawal of police orderlies attached to former governors, senators, ministers, family members of former President Muhammadu Buhari, and some politically-exposed persons across Nigeria.
Yesterday, news broke out that the IGP had ordered the withdrawal of police officers attached to former governors including Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), Adamu Mu’Azu (Bauchi), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Ikedi Ohakim (Imo), and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, amongst others.
Former ministers were also affected in a signal from the Force Headquarters dated July 12. They included Maigari Dingyadi (Police Affairs), Timipre Sylva (Petroleum), Clem Ikanade Agba (Budget), former Senator Haliru Jika, PDP former National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu; former Reps member, Rabiu Lawan and former Senator Stephen Adey.
However, in a u-turn Monday, barely 24 hours after the development, IGP Egbetokun, in a statement issued through the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the signal is fake and did not emanate from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) or any of its formations.
“More emphatically, the signal deviates from the Police’s telegraphic message structure and standard as the signal bears the signature of a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), which is highly irregular, as a signal of this nature would typically be signed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), who heads such formations, and not a higher-ranking officer”, Adejobi clarified.
Meanwhile, the Acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has ordered a thorough investigation into the signal’s source and assured that appropriate action will be taken against those responsible for its creation and dissemination.
