The Nigeria Police Force has issued a statement addressing the ongoing misinformation surrounding the tenure of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM. Contrary to reports circulating on social media and in various news outlets, the police clarified that the IGP’s four-year appointment was not a recent development nor an extension of tenure, but rather a lawful application of the rules governing the office.

In the press release issued on September 6, 2024, the Force stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved IGP Egbetokun’s appointment for a four-year tenure in line with the provisions of Section 215(a) and Section 28(c) of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). This approval, which was granted after the IGP’s confirmation by the Police Council, is fully compliant with the laws governing the office of the IGP.

The police further noted that the ongoing rumors of a tenure extension were unfounded, labeling them as the work of “pessimists and mischief makers” with the intent to spread falsehoods for personal gain. The Force emphasized that the IGP does not need to lobby for any extension, as his original appointment letter, issued on November 3, 2023, clearly granted him a full four-year term from the date of his confirmation.

Additionally, the IGP has since been issued with a new letter under the provisions of the Police Act 2020 (as amended), which supersedes the earlier correspondence. This clarification aims to dispel any lingering confusion and put an end to the circulating misinformation.

The Force called on the public to disregard the misleading reports, reiterating that IGP Egbetokun’s tenure is in full compliance with the legal framework governing the Nigeria Police Force. The statement concluded that there is no need for continued debate over the IGP’s term, as the law governing the matter is clear and should not serve as a distraction to policing efforts in Nigeria.

ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, urged the media and the public to focus on supporting the police in their mission rather than being swayed by baseless rumors.