Matilda Omonaiye/
After spending 42 days as the acting Commissioner of Police (CP) in Lagos, Mr Imohimi Edgal has lost his new rank.
NewsmakersNG learnt that Edgal has been demoted by the Police Service Commission (PSC).
According to a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris, Edgal will now revert to his old rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).
The letter with the heading ‘Withdrawal of Acting Appointment: AP. 25095 Mohimi D. Edgal and AP. 36665 Aji Ali Janga was signed by the Permanent Secretary at the PSC, Mr M.F. Istifanus, on behalf of the Chairman, Mr Mike Okiro.
The letter reads in part: “Our letter with Ref No PS/1924/Vol IX/ dated 22nd August, 2017 conveying the Honourable Chairman’s anticipatory approval for the placement of the above-named officers as Acting Commissioners of Police refers, please.
“The Commission at its 24th Plenary Meeting of 27th and 28th September, 2017, took a decision not to ratify the anticipatory approval.
“The Officers are, therefore, reverted to their substantive rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).”
On August 31, CP Fatai Owoseni handed over to Edgal who was his deputy in charge of operations. This followed a statement by the police confirming Owoseni’s redeployment.
Owoseni resumed as the CP in charge of Administration at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, says on that day: “The Inspector General of Police Ibrahim. K Idris has ordered the posting of Ag/COMPOL IMOHIMI D. EDGAL to Lagos state police command as the new Commissioner of Police.
“Ag/CP Edgal Imohimi has taken over and resumed in official capacity as the commissioner of police Lagos state police command with immediate effect.”
Officers in Lagos see Edgal’s demotion as a fallout of the standoff between the IGP and the PSC Chairman, who had once complained on Channels TV that Idris was not ready to work with the commission.
In his short stay, Edgal had taken big strides in Lagos including the procurement of additional patrol vehicles, and the notorious Badoo cultists that had killed many residents in Ikorodu appear to have been subdued.