Nigeria's Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, is facing multiple serious allegations, including attempts to silence critics, financial impropriety involving his family, alleged involvement in a Ponzi scheme, and persistent disobedience of court orders, leading to a Federal High Court judge threatening his arrest by the Nigerian Army.

Former presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, publicly accused IGP Egbetokun of secretly approaching the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Life Camp, Abuja, to obtain a series of interlocutory and ex-parte injunctions. These injunctions are allegedly designed to silence public criticism and block further exposure of alleged misconduct by the IGP, whose tenure Sowore insists expired in 2024. Sowore, via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, described these developments as “disturbing” and “revealing,” claiming Egbetokun retained a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) using police funds to file a suit restraining Sowore from referring to him as the “Illegal IGP.”

The legal action reportedly extends beyond Egbetokun himself. Sowore alleged that the suit was also filed on behalf of ACP Bukola Kuti, described as Egbetokun’s close associate and PSO 2. Kuti, who Sowore claims was illegally promoted over senior officers, is reportedly seeking an ex-parte injunction to prevent public statements identifying her as the IGP's mistress, implying her promotion was part of a broader abuse of office.

A third applicant in the suit is Victor Egbetokun, identified as the IGP's son. Victor is reportedly seeking a perpetual injunction to prevent Sowore from exposing claims that he collected ₦100 million from Anambra State’s security vote. Beyond these personal injunctions, the applicants are also seeking to bar any public linkage between themselves and Jesam Michael, an individual involved in a Ponzi scheme allegedly facilitated by the Nigeria Police Force. This includes claims that police units were officially assigned to Michael at the Force Headquarters to harass, intimidate, and prosecute his victims.

Further investigations by SaharaReporters shed light on IGP Egbetokun's controversial tenure. A document obtained by the outlet revealed that Egbetokun revised his official retirement date to October 31, 2027, following an amendment bill passed by the National Assembly. This extension, updated on January 13, goes against civil service rules which state an officer retires upon reaching 60 years of age or 35 years of service, whichever comes first. By September 4, 2024, Egbetokun had reportedly already turned 60, making his continued service irregular.

The allegations against Victor Adewale Egbetokun are also detailed. SaharaReporters reported that Victor allegedly received a total of ₦100 million from the Anambra State Government’s (ANSG) security vote account in September 2025. This money was purportedly transferred from the Anambra State Security Vote (VI) account at Sterling Bank to Victor Egbetokun’s personal Zenith Bank account. Multiple sources confirmed that Victor Egbetokun held no official position as a police officer, civil servant, or within the Anambra State Government, raising serious questions about the handling of security funds meant for combating insurgency and violent crimes.

Adding to the controversies, Jesam Michael, an international fraudster and CEO of Afriq Arbitrage System (AAS), alleged that IGP Kayode Egbetokun demanded 30 plots of land or their cash equivalent through a senior police officer. This demand reportedly came amid a dispute over properties linked to Michael's former associate, Segun Abayomi, who was accused of stealing company funds. Michael claimed each plot was valued at over ₦30 million, and he was threatened with property confiscation if he did not comply. In a sworn statement on March 17, 2025, Michael detailed how a CSP, allegedly acting on the IGP's directive, pressured him to surrender recovered properties, which he refused, stating the assets were needed to repay investors.

Following his refusal, Michael claimed police officers stormed his residence, seized his cars, and detained his security personnel. He was subsequently arrested, and his case file was transferred to another police unit before being handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Michael maintains that his personal properties, including a house in Jabi, Abuja, were acquired from profits made through legitimate cryptocurrency trading between 2020 and 2024, not from investors’ funds, and he possesses audio and WhatsApp evidence of the alleged demands.

Michael’s Afriq Arbitrage System, a cryptocurrency trading and investment platform, was registered in 2022. He alleged that Abayomi stole company funds to acquire luxury assets and confessed to the theft during interrogation. Michael is currently facing trial by the EFCC on multiple fraud charges, including an alleged fraudulent cryptocurrency trading scheme that reportedly defrauded investors of $854,416.36 and ₦590 million. The EFCC also alleges unlawful solicitation of public deposits and money laundering.

Previous investigations by SaharaReporters revealed how Nigerian police authorities allegedly shielded Michael from prosecution despite mounting evidence of widespread fraud. Sources indicated close ties between Michael and former Special Investigation Unit (SIU) head, Effiong Asuquo, with some officers reportedly dismissing evidence of wrongdoing. Michael is accused of defrauding around 56,000 investors and facilitating over 590,000 illicit transactions. He also faces allegations of fraud in the United States, where his California-based firm, Cryptos OTC Trading Platform Limited (COTP), was deemed a Ponzi scheme by regulators.

Separately, a Federal High Court judge in Abuja, Justice Binta Nyako, issued a stern warning that she could order the Nigerian Army to arrest IGP Egbetokun over his persistent disobedience of court orders. This warning came during contempt proceedings initiated by Mrs. Nnenna Anozie, whose husband, Mr. John Anozie, was abducted by police officers in June 2017 and has not been seen since. Mr. Anozie was allegedly abducted by officers attached to the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) from Awkuzu in Anambra State.

Despite multiple court orders directing the police to produce the missing man or bring the implicated officers to justice, including a September 2025 order to produce indicted officers and case files, the police leadership has reportedly ignored them. Mrs. Anozie’s lawyer, Mr. Vincent Adodo, detailed the long history of police defiance and the filing of Forms 48 and 49 to commence contempt proceedings against the IGP. Justice Nyako expressed her readiness to commit the IGP if necessary, stating, “I will ask the Chief of Army Staff to arrest him. I will not ask the police,” highlighting her lack of confidence in the police acting against their own chief.

Justice Nyako presented two options to the IGP’s counsel: continue the contempt proceedings or meet in her chambers to resolve the problem and communicate the resolutions to the Attorney General of the Federation. Despite reservations from Mrs. Anozie’s lawyer about past letters yielding no results, the judge emphasized the weight of her office and the preference for a solution-oriented approach over merely imprisoning the IGP. The matter was adjourned to April 23 for parties to meet in chambers. Officers implicated in Mr. Anozie’s disappearance include Anthony Obiozor Ikechukwu, Uzochukwu Emeana, John Eze, and Sunday Okpe, some of whom have since retired. Mr. Anozie’s case is emblematic of the widespread abuses for which SARS was notorious, leading to the #EndSARS protests of October 2020.

Mrs. Anozie’s formal contempt process included a motion filed on December 11, accusing Egbetokun of willfully disobeying the September 2025 judgment. After the IGP failed to comply for over a month, she issued Form 48 (Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Court Order) and subsequently Form 49 (Notice of Committal to Correctional Centre), urging the court to commit the IGP to Kuje prison until he purges himself of the contempt. Justice Nyako's proposal for an out-of-court resolution suggests these committal proceedings may be temporarily paused pending the outcome of the planned meeting.