Phone call halts change of Lagos CP, Edgal. A mild-drama played out yesterday at the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, just as the Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, was about to hand over the baton of leadership to his supposed successor, Kayode Egbetokun.
The handover, which commenced about 3p.m., was about to go into full swing when Edgal suddenly received a phone call.
Immediately Edgal received the call, he looked at the faces of policemen, Egbetokun and journalists and said: “The status quo remains! There’s no change of guard for now.”
A shockwave rippled through the gathering. Incidentally, the call came moments after Edgal jokingly told journalists: “You people don’t want me in Lagos, I shall leave.” And with that statement, he embarked on a tour of his office with Egbetokun.
Earlier, Edgal had cleared the office of his personal effects and was merely showing Egbetokun the place that would soon be his office.
But alas, Egbetokun may have to wait for a while, as the powers that be halted the handover ceremony.
Edgal said: “There is no change of guard for now. I remain the Lagos State Commissioner of Police. I’m sure that Kayode Egbetokun is an old timer in the command. Our first job as policemen is to obey orders and directives. We were about concluding the handover and taking over procedure when we were instructed by our bosses from Abuja to suspend action for now.
“There is no change of guard for now. Of course, we will keep the press abreast of latest development.”
Egbetokun, who was standing beside Edgal when he made the comment, tried to look unruffled. He calmly returned to the seat he had been sitting before the tour of ‘his new office’ commenced.
Clearly unease as whispers re-echoed, Egbetokun walked out of the office, made a beeline for his car and furiously drove off, followed by his bemused escorts.
Egbetokun, who had apparently been anticipating and savouring his new position, was said to have parked his car right at the parking spot reserved for only Lagos State Commissioner of Police.
In fact, he and Edgal parked their cars on the spot, which is meant for just one car. The two cars appeared to be fighting for right of space, which symbolically mirrored the dispositions of Edgal and Egbetokun.
The news that Edgal remains the number one policeman in the state travelled like wildfire. Senior policemen, who were waiting to have a meeting with Edgal at the Mohammed Abubakar Conference Hall, were the first to erupt into shouts of joy and jubilation. Policemen attached to Edgal’s convoy shot four times into the air to celebrate the news.
This is not the first time such a drama has played out in Lagos State. Whenever an old guard is supposed to handover to a new one, there is usually a drama. When Edgal was announced as the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, his predecessor, Fatai Owoseni, had refused to handover, insisting that he had not received official signal from Abuja showing his transfer.
Later in a statement, the Lagos State Police Command said it was the new Inspector General of Police (IG), Muhammadu Adamu, who stopped the handover.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Chike Oti, disclosed that the IG, in his wisdom, said the status quo should be maintained.
He said: “The CP, who is well known for his discipline and respect for orders, was about handing over to Mr. Kayode Egbetokun on Tuesday when he received the directive to suspend the ceremony and await further instructions.
“As a command, we thought it necessary to inform the people of Lagos that the CP, Imohimi Edgal, going by this development, remains the head of the police in the state.
“While humbled by the decision, the CP wishes to assure the people of Lagos that their safety and security remains his priority.”
