Tinubu replaces Egbetokun as IGP, appoints Tunji Disu as 23rd Police Chief

President Bola Tinubu has removed Kayode Egbetokun as the 22nd Inspector-General of Police, replacing him with Tunji Disu, an Assistant Inspector-General of Police currently heading the FCID Annex in Alagbon, Lagos.

A source within the Police Service Commission confirmed the development, stating that Egbetokun was summoned to the Presidential Villa on Monday, February 23, 2026, where he was directed to begin handing over procedures.

Egbetokun’s tenure was overshadowed by widespread criticism, largely centred on his prolonged stay in office beyond the statutory retirement age of 60 or 35 years of service. The extension drew sharp rebuke from civil society groups and legal experts, who viewed it as a violation of police service regulations.

His leadership also faced allegations of favouritism, particularly regarding the promotion of Bukola Kuti to Assistant Commissioner of Police, which critics attributed to her perceived closeness to the IGP. Police authorities dismissed these claims.

Further controversy emerged over allegations that ₦100 million from Anambra State’s security vote was traced to an account belonging to Egbetokun’s son, Victor. Rather than probe the matter independently, the police were accused of deploying institutional power to file defamation suits against journalists and media houses that reported the story.

Egbetokun’s tenure also saw repeated legal actions against activist Omoyele Sowore and SaharaReporters over comments branding him an “illegal IGP.” These led to court injunctions restraining further publications concerning the IGP and his family, fuelling accusations of an assault on press freedom.

Observers noted that the former police chief consistently opted for legal retaliation rather than transparent investigations into allegations, deepening public perception of an embattled official using state machinery to shield personal interests.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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