Police reject smuggling allegations against IG, Kayode Egbetokun

The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed allegations of smuggling against Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police refuted claims that Egbetokun is protecting a cartel involved in smuggling suspicious new banknotes from the Central Bank of Nigeria, as reported in recent media.

The statement termed the allegations as unfounded and part of an orchestrated attempt to damage the reputation of both the IGP and the Police Force.

The police spokesperson explained that the incident in question, which took place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on August 26, 2023, had been fully investigated. He noted that the officers involved—DSP Peter Ejike (legal officer at Zone 7), Inspector Ekende Edwin, Inspector Esther Okafor, and Sergeant Talabi Kayode, all stationed at Zone 7 Headquarters—were found guilty and duly sanctioned.

According to Adejobi, the officers unlawfully arrested Andrew Ejah, an employee of FATFAD Cargo Nigeria Limited, who was transporting N74,950,000 in cash on behalf of clients. Acting without proper authorization, the officers detained Ejah at Zone 7 Headquarters in Abuja and falsely reported the amount as N31,790,000.

“The officers then demanded a percentage of the funds in exchange for suppressing the case,” Adejobi said. “When the money’s owners contacted the officers, they claimed the recovered sum was N31,790,000 and requested a bribe to obstruct the investigation.”

Outraged by the officers’ conduct, the owners of the money filed a petition with the Force Headquarters, which directed the case to the IGP Monitoring Unit for further investigation.