metro
IGP responds to Sowore, refutes allegations of ethnic bias in police promotions
IGP responds to Sowore, refutes allegations of ethnic bias in police promotions
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) on Tuesday defended the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) promotion system against allegations of favouritism.
Egbetokun made the remarks during the decoration of officers recently promoted by the Police Service Commission (PSC) in Abuja.
His statement came after publisher and activist Omoyele Sowore alleged that the promotions reflected ethnic bias, claiming an unusually high number of Yoruba officers had been promoted.
Sowore had said, “The IGP’s press release is not transparency; it’s camouflage. This sleight of hand is intended to deflect public scrutiny and disguise a dangerous concentration of power in the hands of cronies and ethnic loyalists.
“The truth is that Egbetokun’s special promotion list is lopsided, opaque, and scandalously skewed in favour of Yorubas. When Muhammadu Buhari was doing the same, we all condemned it.
“When Goodluck Jonathan was doing the same, we all condemned it. The police force under Egbetokun’s watch has become a breeding ground for corruption, favouritism, and ethnic imbalance.”
Sowore further accused force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, of withholding the promotion list to hide the alleged favouritsm.
Sowore said, “If the IGP truly had nothing to hide, he would have released the complete list of promotions, like the 29,000 officers elevated after the #PoliceProtest, but he can’t because of exposing his secret upgrades of loyalists like Muyiwa Adejobi and sidekicks like Bukola Yemisi Kuti and Yemisi Ademosu.
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“Muyiwa and Egbetokun only resorted to a new tactic earlier today, claiming that these exposés are targeting women in his office, his mistresses.
“Still, he forgot to tell Nigerians that there are hundreds of hard-working police women in the Nigeria Police Force who have remained stuck without promotion, some have spent 20 years, because they won’t play ball.”
Responding, Egbetokun, who didn’t directly mention Sowore, described the allegations as the handiwork of “professional mischief-makers and agents of institutional sabotage” who use social media to malign “honourable men.”
He said the NPF had identified individuals attempting to undermine progress because reforms rendered them irrelevant and warned they would face lawful consequences.
“Let me be unequivocal: There is no gender advantage. No ethnic preference. No religious pathway. Only merit. But even as we mark this milestone, we are not blind to the resistance.
“We know there are those who fear change — who attack progress because it exposes their irrelevance.
“A certain corner of social media has become a playground for professional mischief-makers and agents of institutional sabotage.
“They twist facts, malign honourable men, and attempt to discredit noble efforts with shameless dishonesty.
“Let me send them a clear and final message: Your lies will not derail our reforms. Your noise will not drown our resolve. And your provocations, if sustained, will be met with lawful” he noted.
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Egbetokun emphasised that the promoted officers emerged from a rigorous selection process based on courage, integrity, professionalism, and nominations in multiple categories during the 2023 and 2024 award years.
The promotions followed the IGP’s recommendation for officers named Police Officer of the Year or those who won any police award category twice in two consecutive years.
“We have come to honour men whose stories now serve as institutional case studies in courage and professionalism: CSP Shaba Aliyu, Police Officer of the Year, 2023, and SP Sentome Obi, Police Officer of the Year 2024.
“These two officers did not walk casually into this honour – they earned it through distinction in a field of giants.”
He explained that the selection process underwent rigorous review and excluded undue influence.
He continued, “This process was designed to sift not just for performance, but for character. They rose to the top – not by accident, not by favour, but by merit.
“We did not set the bar low. No. That would insult the dignity of this exercise. Out of over 300,000 officers, only 38 met the stringent criteria for accelerated promotion.
“These officers did not lobby for favour; they let their work speak. And the institution has responded — publicly, proudly, and with full institutional endorsement.
“Let every officer here take note: this is the standard. If you aspire to be here tomorrow, it begins with what you do today.”
He clarified that the initiative complemented rather than replaced the existing promotional structure and aimed to encourage diligence across police commands and divisions nationwide.
Egbetokun also disclosed that the NPF had promoted over 10,000 officers in two years, including 5,008 officers in the just-concluded 2025 promotion exercise.
“This initiative is not designed to replace our existing promotion structure. On the contrary, it complements it.
“Between 2023 and today, over 10,000 officers have been promoted through our regular and transparent promotion processes.
“In this Force, promotion is no longer about who you know — it is about what you contribute,” Egbetokun declared.
IGP responds to Sowore, refutes allegations of ethnic bias in police promotions
metro
EFCC Drags Fuji Musician to Court Over Alleged ₦21.2m Fraud
EFCC Drags Fuji Musician to Court Over Alleged ₦21.2m Fraud
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a Fuji musician, Felix Duke Osagie, before a Lagos State court over an alleged ₦21.2 million fraud.
The musician was reportedly arraigned on Thursday before Justice Ismail Ijelu in connection with allegations of financial fraud, according to a report published on the EFCC’s social media platform.
The arraignment marks another high-profile case involving the anti-graft agency’s investigation and prosecution of alleged financial crimes.
However, details of the charge, including how the musician allegedly obtained the money, the identity of the complainant and the specific transactions involved, were not visible in the available excerpt.
EFCC Drags Fuji Musician to Court Over Alleged ₦21.2m Fraud
metro
‘Tinubu Graduated in 1979, You Arrived in 1985’: Omowaiye Challenges Pearse Over CSU Claims
‘Tinubu Graduated in 1979, You Arrived in 1985′: Omowaiye Challenges Pearse Over CSU Claims
ABUJA, Nigeria – A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oluremi Omowaiye, has challenged Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, over his claims concerning President Bola Tinubu’s academic records, drawing attention to their respective educational backgrounds.
Omowaiye’s reaction followed Pearse’s recent television interview in which the former Chicago State University (CSU) lecturer questioned Tinubu’s attendance at the American institution and alleged that the President never studied there.
Pearse had claimed that he worked at Chicago State University between 1985 and 1990 and served as the director of the programme Tinubu reportedly attended.
However, Omowaiye dismissed the claim, arguing that Tinubu had graduated from the university in 1979, six years before Pearse said he began working there.
According to Omowaiye, the timeline raises questions about Pearse’s assertion that he directed the programme attended by the President.
The APC chieftain also questioned Pearse’s academic background, pointing to his reported studies in English at Bayero University, Kano, and subsequent academic pursuits at the University of Sheffield and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he reportedly obtained a doctorate in Contemporary African Literature.
Omowaiye argued that Pearse’s academic specialisation was in English and the humanities rather than Accounting, the discipline Tinubu studied at Chicago State University.
On Tinubu’s educational records, Omowaiye cited the October 2023 testimony of Chicago State University’s Registrar, Caleb Westberg, during legal proceedings in the United States.
Westberg testified that Tinubu attended the institution between August 1977 and June 1979 and graduated on June 22, 1979, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, majoring in Accounting.
The testimony was accompanied by university documents presented during the proceedings.
Omowaiye also maintained that the controversy surrounding Tinubu’s academic qualifications had been addressed by the Nigerian Supreme Court.
The APC chieftain reportedly gave Pearse seven days to retract his allegations and apologise publicly, threatening legal action and petitions to the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services if he failed to comply.
He said his intervention was motivated by concerns about the spread of claims concerning the President’s educational background, particularly among young Nigerians.
The controversy followed Pearse’s appearance on News Central Television, where he questioned the President’s academic history and accused the Minister of Education of misleading Nigerians over Tinubu’s educational records.
However, Pearse’s allegations remain disputed, particularly in view of the testimony and documentary evidence presented by Chicago State University during the 2023 US court proceedings.
The latest exchange has further intensified political arguments surrounding Tinubu’s educational qualifications as political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
‘Tinubu Graduated in 1979, You Arrived in 1985’: Omowaiye Challenges Pearse Over CSU Claims
metro
Schoolboy Foils Kidnap Attempt After Suspect Uses Father’s Name to Lure Him
Schoolboy Foils Kidnap Attempt After Suspect Uses Father’s Name to Lure Him
EDJEKOTA-OGOR, DELTA STATE — A schoolboy identified as Marvellous has reportedly escaped a suspected kidnapping attempt after a commercial motorcycle rider allegedly tried to lure him away by claiming that his father had sent him.
The incident occurred in Edjekota-Ogor community in Delta State, where the unidentified motorcycle rider reportedly approached the boy and attempted to gain his confidence by mentioning his father’s name.
The suspect allegedly told Marvellous that his father had instructed him to pick him up, apparently hoping to deceive the young boy into following him.
However, Marvellous reportedly became suspicious of the rider’s claim and refused to go with him, thereby foiling what could have been an abduction.
Following the incident, community leaders reportedly intervened to ensure the boy’s safety and facilitate his return to his family.
The President-General of Edjekota-Ogor community subsequently directed the community’s Secretary-General to take necessary steps to protect the boy and reunite him with his relatives.
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Acting on the directive, the Secretary-General reportedly contacted members of Marvellous’s family and successfully ensured that he was returned safely to his relieved parents.
The incident has drawn attention to the need for increased vigilance among parents, guardians and community members over the safety of children.
Parents have been urged to educate their children never to follow anyone, including familiar-looking strangers, without first confirming such arrangements directly with them.
Children should also be taught not to rely solely on someone mentioning their parents’ names as proof of familiarity or authority.
The identity and whereabouts of the suspected motorcycle rider were not disclosed in the account of the incident.
Schoolboy Foils Kidnap Attempt After Suspect Uses Father’s Name to Lure Him
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