Edgal, Egbetokun in Tug of War over Lagos State Command

Alex Otudor, Associate Editor/

There was palpable tension at the headquarters of the Lagos State Police Command today when the redeployed Commissioner, Imohimi Edgal, withdrew from handing over to his expected successor, Kayode Egbetokun.

The situation nearly degenerated into pandemonium as both police bosses engaged in a prolonged battle of wits to see who among them would blink first.

Egbetokun was first to arrive, with his men from Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD), at the Command’s headquarters early in the morning. He parked his car at the parking space reserved for the Commissioner of Police before going into Edgal’s office to await his arrival for the official handing-over-and-taking-over.

NewsmakersNG reports that Egbetokun also brought along an office chair he planned to use on his first day at work.

When Edgal arrived later, he appeared surprised that his parking space had been taken over but opted to park in another place close by.

Senior officers and journalists who had been waiting to witness the routine handover ceremony were, however, taken aback when Edgal who is a course mate of the newly appointed acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abubakar Adamu Mohammed, announced that he had received a counter signal not to obey the order of former IGP Ibrahim Idris to vacate his office.

He said, “Our first job is about order and directives. We were about concluding the handing-over-and-taking-over procedure when we were instructed by our boss in Abuja to suspend action for now. So, there will be no change of guard for now.”

The impasse was on for hours after which Egbetokun eventually left the police headquarters on Muiz Banire Road, Ikeja, when it became apparent that Edgal was unwilling to shift ground.

Egbetokun’s decision to leave was greeted with wild jubilation by some Divisional Police Officers loyal to Edgal.

NewsmakersNG also witnessed a handful of junior officers shooting into the air in celebration of what they perceived as Edgal’s victory.

A short while later, Edgal who was in mufti also left the premises along with his aides for an unascertained destination.

A tragedy was, however, averted when one of his jubilating guards fell off the escort vehicle but escaped with injuries as Edgal’s convoy was driving out of the premises.