Why he had to go: The power struggle that ended Egbetokun’s police career

Former Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun was forced to resign by President Bola Tinubu after resisting the directive to withdraw over 11,000 police officers from VIP protection duties—a scheme generating over N300 billion annually—while also publicly opposing state policing and allegedly treating his colleague and eventual successor, Olatunji Disu, vindictively despite both men owing their careers to Tinubu’s political support.

Former Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun was removed from office by President Bola Tinubu over his reported resistance to the President’s directive to withdraw police officers from Very Important Personalities protection duties, according to a report by Saturday PUNCH. Although Egbetokun officially cited “family issues” in his resignation letter submitted on Tuesday, insiders revealed that the former police chief was summoned to the Presidential Villa and informed that he had to step down.

“That Monday evening, he (the President) called him to tell him that he has to go,” one source said. Another insider explained that the former IG pleaded for more time, asking to be allowed to complete his four-year tenure, which was expected to run until October 2027 under a 2024 amendment to the Police Act granting IGs a fixed term regardless of age or years of service. “The former IG was supposed to go in 2027. He begged that he be allowed to complete his term. The President said no, he had to go,” the source said.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that the President’s decision was driven by three grievances that had accumulated over several months. The most immediate trigger was Egbetokun’s handling of the November 23, 2025 presidential directive ordering the withdrawal of over 11,000 police officers from VIP protection duties for redeployment to communities plagued by kidnapping, banditry and terrorism. An official in the Presidency revealed that Egbetokun did not merely drag his feet but pushed back directly against the President during a meeting with security chiefs, arguing that business leaders and senior corporate executives needed police protection.

“One of the issues is the withdrawal of police from VIPs. He didn’t execute it as quickly as the President wanted. He did it halfheartedly. He actually argued against it with the President during the security meeting, saying that the economic actors, the business people need to be protected,” the source said. The President rejected the argument, pointing to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps as an adequate replacement, stating: “The President said yes, they need to be protected. But the police don’t have to protect them. Civil Defence can protect them. In fact, he said, ‘the Civil Defence is even more lethal in handling of arms. So, what are you talking about? What is the difference between Civil Defence and the police? They are both carrying arms. So why are you fixated on having police to do that?'”

Another insider revealed that the initial resistance had a financial dimension. According to the source, the VIP deployment scheme generated over N300 billion annually for the police through a system in which businesses and individuals pay a fee for each officer deployed to them. “The truth of the matter is, from what we know, what goes into police from money that these people pay for protection is over N300bn annually. They collect N100,000 per month from one officer. So, they will give the officer maybe N50,000. So, the rest goes through the chain. It trickles down. The President’s order was very disruptive. So, the police establishment was not happy because he removed a big income source from them. They resisted it. Some of them started wearing mufti. So, it means that they found a way to compromise it and the President got to learn about it,” the source said.

The second grievance, according to multiple sources, was Egbetokun’s alleged opposition to the creation of state police, a flagship security reform that President Tinubu has championed. “He is publicly against state police. Even at the National Assembly, the police memorandum that he read when they did public hearing, he was against it. How can you be against something that your Commander-In-Chief wants? He attended a public event where you are arguing against state police. It wasn’t a prudent thing to be openly against what your principal is pushing,” the source said.

The third reason related to Egbetokun’s conduct toward colleagues, particularly his treatment of Olatunji Disu, the man who ultimately replaced him as Acting Inspector General of Police. Both men served under Tinubu when he was governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007, with Egbetokun as Chief Security Officer and Disu as Aide-De-Camp. A Presidency source said the President found Egbetokun’s behaviour troubling: “The President doesn’t like people using power against their peers, your friends, people that you grew up with, people that were with you, your colleagues, those who were part of your career growth. He (Egbetokun) used his position against Disu. They both served Tinubu when he was governor. Disu was ADC, he was CSO. How can somebody that two of you were mentored by the same person and has been instrumental to lifting all of you…So, if Tinubu acted like him, would he have gotten here?”

The Nigeria Police Council is expected to meet next week to formally consider Disu’s confirmation, after which President Tinubu will transmit his name to the Senate for confirmation as substantive IGP.