By Kelvin Adegbenga
After watching the viral video where Omoyele Sowore declared that Inspector General of Police Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun is “the most incompetent police officer in Nigeria” and went further to label him an “illegal IGP”, one thing became immediately clear: Sowore has once again chosen sensationalism over substance, noise over knowledge, and reckless rhetoric over verifiable facts.
Sowore’s comments are not only misleading but they are also a deliberate distortion of the law. And they expose a deeper bitterness he has nursed since the appointment of IGP Egbetokun, perhaps because he no longer enjoys the old, toxic ecosystem where blackmailing senior police authorities could fetch him attention or financial gain.
The Law Is Clear: Egbetokun’s Tenure Is Legal
For avoidance of doubt, Section 7(6) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020 explicitly states:
“A person appointed as the Inspector-General of Police shall hold office for a term of four (4) years.”
This provision did not begin with Egbetokun. It has been in force since 2020 and provides stability, continuity, and reform coherence for the Police Force. Any serious commentator should know this.
To reinforce this clarity, Section 18(8) was amended as Section 18(8a) of the same Act, stating that:
The Inspector-General of Police is entitled to complete the four-year tenure stated in the appointment letter, even if they attain the mandatory retirement age before the end of that tenure.
This means the IGP’s tenure is tied to the four-year statutory term, not age.
The Attorney General Has Spoken And His Words Settle The Matter
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has already clarified the matter beyond argument. He affirmed that:
- IGP Egbetokun’s appointment took effect on October 31, 2023.
- His tenure runs uninterrupted for four years.
- Meaning he remains in office until October 31, 2027, age notwithstanding.
Once the nation’s top law officer has spoken this clearly, what exactly is Sowore shouting “illegal IGP” for?
If Sowore Is Not Grandstanding, He Should Go To Court
If Omoyele Sowore truly believes the IGP is illegal and not merely seeking social-media relevance, let him approach a court of competent jurisdiction. That is how democracies work.
Grandstanding on camera is not the same as invoking judicial review.
Let him file a suit, tender evidence, and test his argument under the light of constitutional scrutiny.
But we all know he won’t, because his argument has no legal legs to stand on.
Egbetokun’s Record Speaks For Itself
Sowore’s attempt to paint Egbetokun as incompetent is laughable. The current IGP is a PhD holder, a career officer with decades of operational and administrative experience, and arguably one of the most reform-minded Police Chiefs in recent history.
Under Egbetokun, the Police have pursued:
- stronger professional standards,
- community-friendly policing,
- modernisation of operational structures, and
- renewed emphasis on rule-of-law-driven policing.
These are measurable reforms, not noise.
Conclusion: Sowore Can Keep Shouting “Illegal IGP,” The Rest Of Us Will Focus On Facts
Omoyele Sowore may continue screaming “illegal IGP” into every available microphone. It will not change the law. It will not invalidate the Police Act 2020. It will not alter the Attorney General’s position. And it certainly will not distract Kayode Egbetokun from continuing his mission of building a professionally competent, people-friendly Police Force guided strictly by constitutional principles.
The law is settled.
The facts are settled.
The only unsettled thing is Sowore’s desperation for attention.
And that, unfortunately, is not the IGP’s problem.
Kelvin Adegbenga writes from Ikeja, Lagos. Email: kelvinadegbenga@yahoo.com @kelvinadegbenga
