The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has approved the deployment of newly appointed Commissioners of Police to various state commands and strategic formations across Nigeria.

The postings followed the approval of recommendations by the Police Service Commission (PSC) for the appointment of eight Commissioners of Police to fill vacancies created by promotions and strengthen operations in affected commands.

The newly deployed state commissioners are CP Afolabi Wilfred Olutokunbo for Abia State, CP Ayodeji Faniyan for Plateau State, CP Saka Adewale Ajao for Bayelsa State, CP Ajo Geofrey Ordue for Cross River State, CP Nanna Oji Ama for Anambra State, CP Patrick Daaor for Edo State, CP Tani Murtala for Jigawa State and CP Samuel Erale for Delta State.

The Police Service Commission also approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector-General of Police Auwal Mohammed as the new Commandant of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State.

The IGP also approved the deployment of other senior officers to key police formations and departments.

CP Yemi John Oyeniyi was posted as Commissioner of Police in charge of Intelligence and Training at the Force Intelligence Department, Abuja, while CP Charles Ezekwesiri Dike was deployed as Commissioner of Police in charge of INTERPOL at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja.

CP Aina Adesola was assigned as Commissioner of Police in charge of the Department of Finance and Administration and Department of Training and Development at Force Headquarters, Abuja. CP Uduak Ita Otu was posted as Commissioner of Police in charge of Anti-Human Trafficking at the FCID Annex, Alagbon, Lagos.

CP Abdullateef Ajape Yusuf was deployed as Commissioner of Police in charge of General Investigation at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, while CP Taiwo A. Adedeji was assigned to head the Counter Terrorism Unit at Force Headquarters.

CP Ajayi Oluyemi was posted as Commissioner of Police in charge of Anti-Human Trafficking at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, while CP Bolanle Aremu was deployed to the Department of Finance and Administration at Force Headquarters.

Other officers were also assigned to roles at the Police Staff College, Jos, Nigeria Police Academy, Kano, and other strategic units.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the remand in Kuje Correctional Centre of a retired officer of the Department of State Services, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam over his support for the outlawed Indigenous People of Buafra, IPoB.

The retired officer was arraigned by the Department of State Services for, among other things, supporting the proscribed terrorist organization.

He was arraigned on a four-count charge, including joining IPOB, posting messages in support of the proscribed organization, and involvement in acts capable of inducing unsuspecting members of the public to join IPOB.

The DSS told the court presided over by Justice Muhammed Umar, that what the retired officer did was contrary to and punishable under Sections 13, 25, 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

When the charges were read out to Ezeakolam, he pleaded “not guilty” to all the four counts. Thereafter, the prosecution applied for a trial date and urged the court to remand him in custody pending trial.

Justice Umar adjourned the matter to October 29 for commencement of trial and ordered that Ezeakolam be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

Count One of the charges brought against Ezeakolam, reads: “That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, at Abuja and Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly and indirectly render support by providing moral assistance and disseminating terrorist information of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB, a proscribed organization, through the internet and your social media platforms, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 13 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count Two: “That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, in Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did join Indigenous People of Biafra, a proscribed organization, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 25 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count Three: “That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, at Abuja and Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly directly and indirectly aid and abet the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by posting on social media platforms messages calculated to induce unsuspecting members of the public to support Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organization, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count Four:
“That you, Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, adult, male, sometime 2025 and 2026, at Abuja and Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, on social media platforms did post and cause to be accessed, messages aimed at advancing the cause of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organization and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of Cybercrimes (Prevention, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015, as amended,” the charge said.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately vacate the court order freezing the Osun State Government’s accounts, citing concerns that the action could undermine public confidence ahead of the state’s governorship election.

In a statement issued on Thursday from the State House, the President said he was “deeply embarrassed” by the timing of the EFCC’s move, stressing that although the anti-graft agency acted pursuant to a court order, the public would inevitably associate the action with his administration.

Tinubu reiterated his long-standing policy of allowing anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies to operate independently without political interference, noting that he had consistently refrained from directing the operational activities of the EFCC and other investigative bodies.

According to the President, strong democratic institutions must be allowed to perform their statutory responsibilities professionally, without fear, favour or political influence.

He, however, said the timing of the EFCC’s action was inappropriate, especially as Osun State is only days away from its governorship election.

“Nothing ought to be done to give the impression that the EFCC or any other federal agency is being used to interfere with the electoral process,” Tinubu stated.

The President said that while he was yet to receive full details of the investigation that prompted the EFCC to obtain the court order, the overriding public interest required urgent intervention to safeguard the integrity, credibility and fairness of the electoral process.

Consequently, Tinubu directed the EFCC to return to court immediately to vacate the order freezing the state’s accounts and discontinue the action against the Osun State Government.

The directive comes amid heightened political attention over the EFCC’s decision to secure a court order freezing Osun State’s accounts as part of an ongoing investigation. The development had sparked widespread reactions from political stakeholders and legal practitioners, with concerns over its potential impact on the forthcoming governorship election.