A storm of controversy has erupted within the Nigeria Police Force over the preferential promotion of a female officer, Bukola Kuti, who is romantically involved with the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Multiple sources within the force told SaharaReporters that Kuti, who currently serves as PSO 3 (Principal Staff Officer) to the IGP, has risen to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), just 10 years after joining the force.
Insiders have described this as highly irregular and far ahead of her contemporaries, many of whom remain at the Superintendent of Police (SP) level.
On Wednesday, SaharaReporters reported that the Police Service Commission (PSC) had approved the special promotion of 37 senior police officers handpicked by Egbetokun, but internal uproar within the force has stalled the public announcement of the list, SaharaReporters has learnt.
SaharaReporters gathered that the promotions, largely considered controversial, have sparked ethnic and institutional tensions within the Nigeria Police Force.
What has also sparked particular outrage is that Kuti reportedly spent only six months as a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) before receiving the controversial promotion to ACP — a career trajectory seen by many within the force as a product of her close personal ties to the IGP rather than merit or seniority.
In January, Kuti was among the police officers decorated with new ranks by IGP Egbetokun during a ceremony held at the Louis Edet House, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Allegations of Domestic Roles and Preferential Treatment
Sources further revealed that Bukola Kuti is one of two female officers handling the IGP’s personal and domestic affairs.
The second officer, identified only as Yemisi, holds the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and is said to accompany the IGP on official and personal trips frequently.
Yemisi, who reportedly began her service as Egbetokun’s orderly, allegedly relocated to Abuja after he was appointed Acting Inspector General of Police in June 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, replacing former IGP Usman Alkali Baba.
“Kuti’s mates are police superintendents. She had only spent six months in the CSP rank before she was promoted to ACP,” one of the sources said.
“She handles IGP domestic affairs in addition to another lady called Yemisi, who constantly travels with the IGP. Yemisi is also an ASP.”
Before his appointment, Egbetokun served as Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department at Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Kuti Runs Catering Services, Not Police Work
Despite her elevated rank, Bukola Kuti is reportedly not involved in substantive police work. Instead, she is said to operate primarily as a contractor responsible for providing catering services within the police establishment.
“This woman doesn’t even do real police work,” said one source. “She handles domestic duties and contracts, but keeps rising above others who actually work. She is responsible for cooking as a contractor for police work.”
Her promotion has left many officers demoralised, especially those who joined the force around the same time but remain in lower positions despite years of service and experience.
Silent Promotion Amid Broader Scandal
According to insiders, the police leadership has refrained from making her latest promotion public due to the sensitivity of the matter and fears of backlash over ethnic imbalance in recent special promotions under IGP Egbetokun’s tenure.
In a related development, Asuquo, another senior staff officer believed to have been responsible for managing the IGP’s official workload, was removed in connection with the recent age falsification scandal that rocked the force. His removal cleared the way for Kuti’s promotion and expanded influence.
‘Yoruba Officers Dominate Controversial Promotion’
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that out of the 37 officers promoted under “special consideration,” 30 were allegedly of Yoruba origin—fueling growing concerns that IGP Egbetokun is presiding over a regionally biased or “provincial” police leadership.
The development has sparked discontent across various police commands, particularly among officers who believe they were overlooked for promotion despite being qualified, allegedly due to ethnic considerations.
“Out of the 37 newly promoted senior officers, 30 are Yorubas, and now the issue is how to pacify a fractured police force that already felt the IGP was running a provincial police force before making the controversial list public,” a top source told SaharaReporters earlier in the week.
According to sources, suggestions had been made to release the list in batches to avoid backlash, but pressure was mounting on the PSC to go ahead and publish the entire list despite the ongoing internal discontent.
“There have been suggestions to release the list in batches to ease tensions within the police force, particularly among officers who were overlooked for promotion due to ethnic bias,” a source said.
Several of the promoted officers are said to be close associates of the IGP, either currently working with him on the 7th floor of the Force Headquarters in Abuja or longstanding allies from his previous postings.
SaharaReporters earlier revealed that among the beneficiaries of the controversial special promotions is the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, who has been the subject of multiple petitions—reportedly filed by female officers—but whose complaints were allegedly dismissed by the Police Service Commission (PSC).
Others on the list include two Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) to the IGP and Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Fom Pam Joseph, who currently serves as the Force Secretary.
AIG Joseph was appointed to the position in February 2025, succeeding AIG Adetutu Rhoda Olofu, who was elevated to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police.
