According to multiple senior police sources who spoke to SaharaReporters on Thursday under conditions of anonymity, the IGP acted swiftly after reports surfaced linking Nzube Henry Ikeji to a $2.5 million scam involving the impersonation of a Dubai Crown Prince.
Emergency Return to Abuja, Closed-Door Meetings
Sources said Egbetokun was in Lagos when details of the alleged fraud began circulating widely online. Shortly after, he reportedly cut short his trip and returned abruptly to Abuja, where he convened an emergency meeting involving senior police officers and officials from the Force Information Technology Department.
“The moment the story broke, the IGP left Lagos for Abuja,” one senior officer alleged. “He summoned the IT department and top officers and accused some personnel of leaking information to SaharaReporters. There was panic everywhere.”
The source claimed that the IGP ordered an internal probe to identify officers suspected of engaging with the media, while simultaneously directing efforts to erase any digital trail connecting him to Ikeji.
Alleged Digital Clean-Up and Social Media Deletions
Multiple insiders alleged that the police leadership deployed internal IT resources and external social media professionals to remove photos and posts showing the IGP in the company of the socialite, particularly on Instagram.
“He instructed the IT unit to delete all images linking him with Ikeji,” one source said.
Another officer corroborated this, stating that a coordinated digital “damage control” exercise was launched immediately after a documentary by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) went viral.
“I can confirm that all such Instagram posts have been taken down,” the source alleged. “That was part of the emergency response after the documentary gained traction.”
Allegations of Protection and Financial Ties
The OCCRP documentary reportedly detailed how a Nigerian man posed as a Dubai royal to defraud a Romanian woman of approximately $2.5 million. Police insiders alleged that the individual referenced is Henry Ikeji, a flamboyant socialite known for showcasing wealth and supposed royal connections.
One source further alleged that Ikeji enjoyed protection within the police hierarchy due to an alleged personal relationship with the IGP.
“Everyone at police headquarters knows that Ikeji’s godfather is the IGP,” the source claimed, alleging that the socialite had provided gifts and cash to the police chief, including during the December festive period.
These claims have not been independently verified, and no official response has been issued by the IGP regarding the allegations.
Power Plays and Senior Officer Movements
Sources also pointed to sudden redeployments within the police hierarchy, describing them as strategic moves aimed at neutralising perceived internal threats.
One insider alleged that Assistant Inspector-General Olatunji Disu was abruptly redeployed to Lagos in what was described as a calculated attempt to edge him toward retirement.
Earlier in the week, the IGP approved Disu’s posting as AIG in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos.
According to multiple accounts, the controversy has caused unease at police headquarters, with senior officers uncertain about their standing.
“He has been shuttling between Lagos and Abuja, effectively running a ‘false headquarters,’” a source said. “There is serious confusion and anxiety within the system.”
Police Confirm Review of Viral Documentary
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force’s National Cybercrime Centre confirmed on Thursday that it had commenced a review of the viral documentary.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Centre’s Commissioner of Police, CP Uche Ifeanyi, said investigators had begun profiling and analysing the allegations circulating online.
“We intercepted the case that is trending and immediately summoned our officers to conduct profiling and fact-checking,” Ifeanyi said.
He noted that the police had not yet been formally contacted by the documentary’s producers and were relying on publicly available information while the assessment continues.
“We have not been contacted by the YouTuber or producers. What we have is what is already in the media, and we are analysing it to ensure justice is done,” he added.
Ifeanyi stressed that the police would treat the matter seriously, regardless of whether the complaint originated from social media, a petition, or investigative journalism.
“This is a very serious issue and will not be swept under the carpet,” he said.
He also cautioned Nigerians to remain vigilant against online investment scams, warning that unrealistic profit promises and pressure tactics are common red flags.
“When something sounds too good to be true, people should ask questions. Suspicious cases should be reported to the Office of the Inspector-General of Police,” he advised.
*Source: Sahara Reporters*
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