By Akintunde Aderonke Omolewu | Fact Frontier.
Click here to read more about the reporter.
In one of his first major administrative decisions since assuming office, the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has ordered the immediate redeployment of ACP Bukola Yemisi Kuti, a move insiders believe is linked to a lingering power struggle stemming from a controversial ₦100 million financial saga involving the immediate past administration.
ACP Kuti, who served as the Principal Staff Officer 2 (PSO2) to former IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has been transferred to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, Plateau State. While police spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi described the posting as a routine strategic deployment, sources within the Force Headquarters suggest the decision carries deeper significance, rooted in recent history between the two senior officers.
According to The Punch newspaper, the tension predates Disu's appointment. The publication reported that prior to his emergence as IGP, ACP Kuti had allegedly advocated for Disu's retirement from the force. The reported animosity stemmed from allegations that Disu leaked information regarding a dubious ₦100 million transaction linked to the former IGP's son.
Related news:
• Can Tunji Disu reform jinx of Nigerian police?
“ACP Kuti was said to have spearheaded moves to force the now-IGP out of service over his alleged role in exposing a ₦100 million scandal involving the immediate-past IGP’s son,” a source familiar with the situation told The Punch.
The controversy surrounding ACP Kuti’s tenure under the former administration has been a subject of intense scrutiny. Her rapid rise and significant influence within the Force Headquarters drew criticism from several quarters, including the police officers’ welfare group, the Police Campaign Against Unethical Practices. In a statement released in late 2024, the group accused her of "pulling down officers" to maintain her standing.
The Guardian also highlighted the unusual level of authority wielded by ACP Kuti during Egbokun's tenure, noting that her role as PSO2 placed her at the center of administrative decisions, often bypassing traditional command structures.
Her influence was palpable, and she was seen as a gatekeeper to the former IGP,the report stated.
The redeployment to NIPSS, a think-tank primarily focused on policy research, is widely interpreted within the police force as a strategic move to distance her from the core decision-making hub at the Louis Edet House. Legal analysts suggest that while the transfer is administrative, it could also serve to insulate her from the potential turbulence of a new regime.
Furthermore, following Disu's confirmation as Acting IGP, reports emerged that the former IGP’s son had been invited by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) over the ₦100 million bribery allegations. Although ACP Kuti was not named as a subject of that investigation, her previous attempts to shield the former IGP’s family from exposure are believed to have placed her in a precarious position with the new leadership.
As of the time of filing this report, ACP Kuti has not issued a public statement regarding her redeployment, and police authorities maintain that the posting is a normal exercise designed to infuse new ideas into the policy institute. However, political and police affairs observers see this as a clear signal that the IGP is consolidating his authority and reshaping the Force Headquarters to align with his vision, free from the entrenched interests of the previous administration.
