New Inspector General of Police (IGP) Adamu Mohammed may have reversed the transfer of Lagos State Commissioner of Police Imohimi Edgal who was earlier named to head Police Ordnance Department (EOD) in Abuja.
The Lagos CP was to swap office with Mr. Kayode Egbetokun. who is presently in charge of Police Explosive Ordnance Department.
The two officers had arranged for a handing and taking over ceremony scheduled to hold by 3pm yesterday but as they were having a closed door session preparatory to the handing over, a call allegedly came from the new IGP Adamu Mohammed and he ordered that the ceremony be put on hold until further notice.
Edgal who briefed the press in company with Egbetokun said: “Gentlemen of the press, are you here for the handing and taking over? Are you here because you love me or you are eager for me to leave? Well, there is a directive that the status quo should remain till further notice. We shall brief you later “.
Egbetokun who came with his chair, other personal effect and his personal staff to take over Lagos Police Command, took the directive in good faith saying as he leaves the command, that, “we are government agents and we are always taking directives.
Thank you all for coming.”
Edgal who left immediately for Abuja, to meet with the new IGP received gun salute from elated police officers who cheered him.
A police wireless message had on Sunday redeployed the commissioner of police in charge of Lagos with immediate effect, appointing Egbetokun in his place.
Egbetokun had arrived Lagos State Command Headquarters, Ikeja on Monday and he was conducted round the command while the handing over was scheduled for 3pm Tuesday.
A senior police officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: “CP Edgal had removed his belongings since Monday and Egbetokun had moved in with his personal staff, belongings, including his official chair to take over. As they were about handing over, the new IGP called and directed that the hand over should stop and status quo should be maintained. IGP spoke with Edgal and asked him to hand over the phone to Egbetokun. He also spoke with Egbetokun. The two of them immediately complied with the IGP’s directive and jointly addressed the press.”
Sun