- Recently, the tenure of Egbetokun as the IGP sparked controversy on whether the police boss should have retired after clocking 60 years old in September 2024.
- Amid the controversy, some social media users accused Mba, who is of Igbo extraction, of being behind the issues surrounding the IGP’s tenure, claiming it was a strategy to pave the way for him to replace Egbetokun.
Reno Omokri has cautioned against linking Frank Mba, deputy inspector-general of police, to the controversy surrounding Kayode Egbetokun’s tenure as inspector-general of police.
Omokri claimed that after conducting his own investigation, he discovered that Mba is content with his current role and remains loyal to Egbetokun.
Recently, Egbetokun’s tenure as inspector-general of police sparked debate about whether he should have retired after turning 60 in September 2024.
However, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi maintained that Egbetokun’s continued stay in office is lawful, citing his four-year appointment effective October 31, 2023.
Amid the controversy, some social media users accused Mba of orchestrating the issues surrounding Egbetokun’s tenure, allegedly to pave the way for his own succession.
Others claimed that Egbetokun’s tenure was extended to prevent an Igbo officer from succeeding him.
Omokri countered that the negative propaganda linking Mba to the controversy “simply puts him in a very bad light, thereby putting his career in danger.”
He emphasized that the president’s appointment of an inspector-general of police cannot be influenced by social media pressure or petty sentiments.
Omokri stated, “Honestly, typical of contemporary Nigerian expectations, I had thought that perhaps these social media narratives may have been influenced by the man being projected to benefit from it by a section of netizens.”
He continued, “However, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that, on the contrary, DIG Frank Mba is very close to IGP Egbetokun and exhibits a rare and superlative sense of loyalty.”
Omokri also noted that within police circles, it’s an open secret that Mba is Egbetokun’s strongest supporter among serving police officers.
He warned that the social media frenzy surrounding Mba could misrepresent him and put his career at risk.
Omokri advised Mba’s supporters to stop spreading negative propaganda, emphasizing that Mba has built an impressive career and appears focused on his current role.
In June 2023, Mba was promoted to deputy inspector-general of police and remains the most senior police officer from the south-east geopolitical zone.
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