It was drama Tuesday at the Ikeja Government Reservation Area (GRA) headquarters of the Lagos Police Command, after it was learnt that the new Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu had reversed the transfer of Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP), Imohimi Edgal, who had been swapped with his counterpart at the Police Ordinance Department (EOD), CP Kayode Egbetokun. An order from Force Headquarters on Sunday had directed that the transfer be carried out immediately. Both CPs had scheduled a handover and takeover session for 3:00 p.m. yesterday. But while the closed-door meeting held, a phone call from the new IGP reportedly ordered the ceremony to stop.
The change of command from Edgal to Egbetokun was scheduled to take place after a joint news conference, but the event was called off due to an “order from the police headquarters in Abuja” demanding that Edgal remains in charge. Huhuonline.com learnt that reporters had been told that the handing over ceremony, scheduled for 1:30 pm had been shifted to 3pm. But a few minutes after 3pm, there was jubilation in the Conference Hall where the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and the Area Commanders, waiting for the briefing by the Acting CP had converged. Huhuonline.com also learnt from police sources that as the duo was having a closed-door meeting, a phone call, believed to be from the new Police IG’s Office came in and directed that the change of guard be put on hold till further notice.
When the two police officers finally made their way into the hall, Edgal, who briefed reporters in the company of Egbetokun, said: “Gentlemen of the press; are you here for the handing over and taking over? Are you here because you like me or you are eager for me to leave? Well, there is a directive that the status quo should remain till further notice.”
“I am sure that Kayode Egbetokun is an old-timer in the command. Our first job as police is order and directive; we were about concluding the handing over and taking over procedure when we were instructed by our bosses from Abuja to suspend action for now. So, there is no change of guard for now,” he said.
Neither man entertained any questions from the reporters; but after the announcement, Egbetokun’s vehicle which had been parked at the official CP’s parking lot, was replaced at the parking lot with Edgal’s; who later announced he was leaving for Abuja to meet with the new Acting Police IG, Mohammed Adamu. As he left, the policemen attached to Edgal’s convoy shot four times into the air ostensibly to celebrate the good news.
Meanwhile, the new IGP has also appointed a new spokesman for the Nigeria Police Force. He is ACP Frank Mba, who once occupied the position. He takes over from Jimoh Moshood, an acting Deputy Commissioner of Police who is being redeployed to other duties. Until his appointment, Frank worked at the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Ikoyi- Lagos. The posting was with immediate effect.
Frank Mba, a lawyer, is an alumnus of the University of Lagos where he studied Law. He also holds a Masters Degree in Law from the University of Dundee, Scotland- United Kingdom. A product of the Nigeria Police Academy, Kano where he had his initial police trainings, Frank is a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy, Quantico- USA. He also holds a Certificate in National and International Security from the Harvard University, USA. A former Police Spokesman- both at the national and the Lagos State Command levels, Frank is an experienced communicator and image maker. The new Police IG has therefore charged him to bring his wealth of experience to bear in revamping the image of the Force, improving the relationship between the citizens and the police, bridging existing communication gap between the police and its stakeholders, and assisting the IGP in realizing his mission and vision for the police and the nation.
Adamu was appointed on Tuesday by President Muhammadu Buhari as acting IG following the retirement of his predecessor, Ibrahim Idris, at the age of 60. Speaking immediately after taking the baton of command, Adamu warned officers and men of the force to abstain from unethical conducts capable of tarnishing the image of the force. He urged the police personnel to join him in the course of changing the narratives of policing the country for good. The police boss promised to address the issue of welfare of personnel and other reward regimes that had been a problem in the force. According to him, the absence of this level of leadership has always been the missing link in policing Nigeria. He said that the lost glory of the force which had remained a concern to governments at all levels and Nigerians would be restored.
“I will provide the highest possible level of professional and responsible leadership to you, while trusting that you shall march hand-in-hand with me as professional colleagues,” he said. He noted that the upcoming 2019 general elections would be an avenue where professionalism and commitment of the force would be subjected to scrutiny. Adamu said the elections were a priority to the leadership of the force, adding that there would soon be deployment of personnel for the elections. He noted that the force would work with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and sister security agencies for peaceful election. Adamu urged politicians to assist the police and other law enforcement agencies in sustaining the gains recorded in the country’s democratic journey. He urged them to play politics within the dictates of the rules guiding it.
