A storm of outrage has hit the Nigeria Police Force after Bukola Kuti, a female officer believed to be romantically linked to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, was promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) just 10 years after joining the force.
SaharaReporters reports that Kuti, who currently serves as the Principal Staff Officer (PSO 3) to the IGP, reportedly received the promotion after spending only six months at her previous rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP). Many officers have called the move unfair and say it ignores the standard promotion timeline.
“Kuti’s mates are still Superintendents. She only spent six months as a CSP before she became ACP. She doesn’t even do real police work. She handles domestic matters and also runs a catering business inside the force,” a senior police source told SaharaReporters.
Sources said her rapid rise is seen as a result of her close relationship with the IGP, and not based on merit or seniority. They also revealed that Kuti and another female officer, Yemisi, handle the IGP’s personal and domestic affairs. Yemisi reportedly travels with the IGP often and relocated to Abuja when he was appointed IGP in June 2023.
Many officers are upset by what they see as favouritism and abuse of power.
One officer said, “This is not just about one promotion. It’s about how the system is being used to reward personal loyalty instead of service and performance.”
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In January, the IGP personally decorated Kuti during a rank promotion ceremony at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, further raising eyebrows.
The promotion is part of a wider scandal involving the special elevation of 37 senior officers. According to reports, 30 of the 37 promoted officers are from the Yoruba ethnic group, which has led to claims that the IGP is running a “provincial” police leadership.
“Out of 37 newly promoted officers, 30 are Yorubas. This has caused serious tension across commands,” a senior officer said.
The Police Service Commission (PSC), which approved the promotions, has delayed publicly announcing the list due to the controversy. Some sources say there are talks to release the list in batches to avoid backlash.
Another officer, Asuquo, who used to manage the IGP’s workload, was recently removed due to an age falsification scandal. His removal reportedly made way for Kuti’s growing influence within the police force.
The situation has left many officers demoralized and angry. They say the current leadership is more concerned with rewarding personal loyalty than promoting fairness and professionalism.
“This is not how to build a strong police force. People are losing faith in the system,” one officer said.
So far, neither the Police Service Commission nor the Force Headquarters has made an official statement on the matter.