A Nigerian youth organisation has publicly rejected allegations linking the Inspector‑General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to fraud, describing the claims as fabricated and misleading, the group said on Friday.
The Integrity Youth Alliance (IYA) issued a statement challenging a report by an online media outlet that claimed the IGP was involved in a multi‑million-dollar fraud scandal and engaged external experts to erase online links to the allegations. The group labelled the narrative as conjecture and false.
The controversy stems from a report by SaharaReporters that alleged links between the Nigeria Police Force leadership and a Nigerian socialite accused of involvement in a $2.5 million fraud case.
The report also suggested that digital traces of the connection were being removed online. The Integrity Youth Alliance addressed these claims directly in its rebuttal.
In the statement, IYA spokesperson Danjuma Lamido said the report was false and did not rely on verifiable evidence. He said the publication sought to malign the IGP’s reputation and undermine public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.
The alliance said allegations of personal relationships between the IGP and the socialite were unfounded. It clarified that routine official engagements should not be misinterpreted as criminal collusion.
The group also dismissed claims of an emergency digital purge, saying police communications were managed internally by official channels.
The IYA further refuted suggestions of internal instability at the Force Headquarters, stating that Egbetokun’s travel itinerary, including engagements in Lagos and return to Abuja, was routine and unrelated to any crisis.
The statement also denied allegations of unlawful surveillance of officers’ private communications.
Lamido said there were no plans for forced retirements of senior officers, noting that decisions on retirements are the responsibility of the Police Service Commission. The alliance urged media organisations to base reports on verified facts and evidence.
The IYA’s response comes amid heightened public discussions on accountability and transparency in security institutions.
The original fraud allegations have attracted attention on social media and in online news forums, with contrasting narratives emerging.
Supporters of the youth group’s position emphasise the importance of due process and caution against spreading unverified claims that could affect public trust in national institutions.
Critics of the fraud allegations question the credibility of unnamed sources cited in the original report.
