News
POLICE; Tension Rises As Egbetokun’s Fate Hangs On Tinubu’s Decision

As Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, approaches retirement, the race to succeed him has intensified.
Egbetokun, appointed on June 19, last year, is scheduled to retire on September 4, when he turns 60.
The Police Council on October 31 confirmed Egbetokun as the substantive IGP.
However, uncertainty clouds his retirement date due to a recent amendment to the Police Act. PUNCH Online earlier reported that he was billed to retire in 2024.
This Executive Bill, passed by the National Assembly in July 2024, allows the President to extend the IGP’s tenure beyond 35 years of service or 60 years of age, enabling the IGP to complete a four-year term.
Since the President has yet to sign the bill into law, tensions are mounting within the police high command.
The COLUMN NG earlier reported that Tinubu is currently on a “brief work stay” in France, with details of how long he would be away unmentioned.
Officers from the ranks of Commissioners of Police (CPs), Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs), and Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs) are now lobbying intensely for the top position.
Sources within the police indicate that if the president does not sign the amendment, Egbetokun will be required to retire as scheduled.
On the other hand, if the amendment is signed into law, the president could extend Egbetokun’s tenure.
However, there is ongoing debate about whether the amendment should be applied retroactively to Egbetokun.
High-ranking police officers
There are eight DIGs, 46 AIGs, and 125 CPs, with four DIGs set to retire between September and December.
Unconfirmed reports have it that the retirement dates for the DIGs are as follows: Bala Ciroma (March 3, 2025); Emeka Frank Mba (May 18, 2027); Sylvester Abiodun Alabi (December 31, 2024); Daniel Sokari-Pedro (December 18, 2024); Ede Ayuba Ekpeji (October 21, 2024); Bello Makwashi Maradun (December 25, 2024); Dasuki Danbappa Galadanchi (March 3, 2025); and Sahabo Abubakar Yahaya (September 15, 2025).
Egbetokun’s future hinges on the President’s decision regarding the amendment.
The amendment, which adds Section 18(8A) to the Nigeria Police Act 2020, states “that any person appointed as IGP shall remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in their appointment letter, as per Section 7(6) of the Act.”
Despite the President’s silence on the bill, senior police officers, including DIGs, AIGs, and CPs, have begun lobbying for the position in anticipation of a potential overhaul of the Nigeria Police Force structure.
Sources indicate that some officers are concerned that extending Egbetokun’s tenure might impede their career progression.
They argue that tenure extensions close to retirement could distort the system and increase lobbying and desperation for positions, regardless of merit.
Tenure extension
Meanwhile, Tinubu followed the path of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who appointed a police officer whose retirement date preceded his tenure in office.
Contrary to the Police Act, 2020, which stipulates a four-year tenure for an IG, Buhari appointed the former IG, Usman Baba, on April 6, 2021, while he (Baba) was expected to retire from the police on March 1, 2023, when he clocked 60 years of age.
Baba took over from Mohammed Adamu, whose tenure Buhari extended for three months on February 4 2021.
Therefore, this isn’t the first time the retirement age for an IG has been met with uncertainty, potential extensions, and similar issues.
During Baba’s tenure, the FG, through the then-minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi, in January 2023, said Baba wouldn’t be retiring when he turns 60 on March 1, 2023.
Dingyadi’s comments followed concerns about the IGP’s possible retirement amidst the 2023 elections.
Baba was to turn 60 on March 1, 2023.
And on retirement as and when due with due diligence, PSC backed Egbetokun’s recent directive, asking policemen aged 60 and those who have spent 35 years in service to tender letters of voluntary retirement immediately.
The PSC urged the affected police officers to obey the IG’s directive and proceed with retirement.
International News
Transfer: Real Madrid , Cucurella Reach Verbal Agreement
Chelsea reliable defender, Marc Cucurella may join Spanish giant, Real Madrid before the end of the current transfer window.if information from transfer journalist, Fabrizio Romano are anything to go by.
Romano In a latest transfer update, said Real Madrid has reached verbal agreement to sign Marc Cucurella from Chelsea.
“Verbal agreement in place between all parties, player too — he’s the left back wanted by Mourinho” the update read.
News
Hakimi, Vinicius Barred From Speaking Spanish At World Cup
FIFA has come under scrutiny after several high-profile players, including Achraf Hakimi and Vinicius Junior, were discouraged from speaking Spanish during media engagements at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.
The issue first surfaced ahead of Morocco’s Group C clash with Brazil when a Spanish-speaking journalist attempted to question Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi in Spanish.
Despite Hakimi, who grew up in Madrid and speaks the language fluently, indicating he was comfortable answering in Spanish, event officials reportedly insisted that questions be asked in English.
Hakimi attempted to reassure organizers that language would not be a barrier, but officials maintained that no Spanish translator was available for the session. A compromise was eventually reached, with the reporter asking the question in Spanish while Hakimi responded in English.
The controversy intensified during Brazil’s media session when Vinicius Junior was also interrupted while responding to a question in Spanish.
The Real Madrid forward, who is more comfortable speaking Portuguese or Spanish than English, was reportedly asked by organizers to switch languages.
Rather than continue in Spanish, Vinicius opted to answer in Portuguese before turning his attention back to Brazil’s World Cup preparations.
The incidents sparked widespread debate among journalists and fans, many of whom questioned why Spanish—a language spoken by millions across North America—was effectively restricted at a tournament being hosted largely in the United States.
According to Spanish media outlet El País, FIFA only provides Spanish-language translation services at World Cup press conferences involving Spanish-speaking nations such as Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, and Paraguay.
For all other teams, questions and answers are expected to be conducted either in English or the official language of the participating country.
The policy has generated criticism online, with many supporters arguing that multilingual communication should be encouraged at a global event like the World Cup.
The backlash was particularly strong in Vinicius’ case, as the Brazilian forward appeared visibly uncomfortable being asked to communicate in English.
The controversy overshadowed what was otherwise a highly anticipated encounter between Brazil and Morocco, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
With the issue now drawing international attention, FIFA may face increasing calls to review its media language guidelines as the tournament progresses.
News
It’s Illegal’…Falana’s Bombshell Indicts Govs, FG.
Human rights advocate, Femi Falana, has warned federal and state governments against negotiating with and rewarding terrorists.
According to Falana, the practice is illegal.
He stated this while delivering the keynote address at the Amnesty International Second Annual General Meeting in Abuja on June 13, 2026.
Falana claimed it is public knowledge officials of the Federal Government and some State Governments have been holding meetings and negotiating with terrorists and bandits, which has led to thousands of ‘repentant’ criminals being forgiven and given cash gifts of undisclosed sums of money.
Asserting that the “satanic Boko Haram sect and similar bodies have been proscribed” under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, Falana insisted that “their members and allies shall be prosecuted and not pampered and forgiven by the Nigerian State.”
Highlighting the legal consequences, he quoted Section 22 of the Act, stating: “A person who knowingly—(a) arranges, manages, assists in arranging or managing, participates in a meeting or an activity, which in his knowledge is concerned or connected with an act of terrorism or terrorist group, (b) collects, or provides logistics, equipment, information, articles or facilities for a meeting or an activity, which in his knowledge is concerned or connected with an act of terrorism or terrorist group, or (c) attends a meeting, which in his knowledge is to support a proscribed entity or to further the objectives of a proscribed entity, commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of at least 20 years.”
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