It was drama yesterday at the Ikeja Government Reservation Area (GRA) Headquarters of the Lagos Police Command where two officers showed up as Police Commissioners in the state.
Commissioner of Police Imohimi Edgal, who was billed to hand over following his earlier redeployment, resumed at works and said he remained in charge.
Kayode Egbetokun, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), who was to take over the baton after a joint news conference, arrived at the Command ahead of Edgal.
The handing over could not hold due to an โorder from the police headquarters in Abujaโ.
Reporters were told that the event scheduled for 1:30 pm had been shifted to 3pm.
But few minutes after 3pm, there were jubilations in the Conference Hall where the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and the Area Commanders, waiting for the briefing by the Acting CP converged.
Not quite long, Edgal, who briefed the reporters in the company of Egbetokun, said: โGentlemen of the press, are you here for the handing over and taking over? Are you here because you like me or you are eager for me to leave? Well, there is a directive that the status quo should remain till further notice.โ
โI am sure that Kayode Egbetokun is an old-timer in the command. Our first job as police is order and directive; we were about concluding the handing over and taking over procedure when we were instructed by our bosses from Abuja to suspend action for now. So, there is no change of guard for now,โ he said.
He did not entertain any question.
Egbetokun, who came with his personal effect and his personal staff, left the command, saying: โWe are government agents and we are always taking directives.โ
As Edgal was leaving for Abuja to meet with the Acting Inspector-General of Police, (IG), Mohammed Adamu, there was gunshot salute.
The policemen attached to Edgalโs convoy shot four times into the air to celebrate the โgood news.โ
On arrival, Egbetokunโs car had been parked at CPโs parking lot while Edgalโs car was parked at another place.
It was gathered that as the duo was having a closed-door meeting, a phone call, believed to be from the IGโs Office came in and directed that the change of guard be put on hold till further notice.
After the announcement, Egbetokunโs vehicle was replaced at the parking lot with Edgalโs.
