The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed allegations implicating its Inspector-General, Kayode Egbetokun, in a smuggling scandal.
In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police described the claims as baseless and a calculated attempt to tarnish the reputation of the IGP and the integrity of the Force.
The controversy stems from an incident at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on August 26, 2023, involving the alleged smuggling of suspicious new banknotes from the Central Bank of Nigeria. Adejobi clarified that the matter has been thoroughly investigated.
He disclosed that four officers from Zone 7 Headquarters—DSP Peter Ejike, Inspector Ekende Edwin, Inspector Esther Okafor, and Sergeant Talabi Kayode—were found culpable and appropriately sanctioned.
The officers, acting under the instruction of DSP Ejike, unlawfully detained Andrew Ejah, an employee of FATFAD Cargo Nigeria Limited, who was transporting ₦74,950,000 on behalf of clients. They reportedly misrepresented the recovered amount as ₦31,790,000 and demanded a share of the funds to suppress the case.
“Upon being contacted by the alleged owners of the money, the officers claimed the recovered sum was ₦31,790,000 and requested a percentage to undermine the investigation and suppress the case,” the statement read.
Outraged by the actions, the money’s owners petitioned the Force Headquarters in Abuja. The case was subsequently handed over to the IGP Monitoring Unit for further investigation.
The police reiterated their commitment to professionalism and accountability while rejecting any suggestion of complicity by the IGP.
