Why CP Edgal Was Rejected in Ogun State …Police Chiefs Exchange Baton in Uyo

Matilda Omonaiye/

Details have emerged on why Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, was asked to leave Ogun State command after being in charge for less than two weeks.

NewsmakersNG learnt from sources at the government house in Abeokuta that the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, rejected Edgal because there was no love lost between them.

According to the sources, Abiodun was not pleased with the way Edgal had handled the case of his son’s death when he was the Lagos State commissioner of police in October 2017.

At the time, Edgal had told reporters that Abiodun’s son died of an overdose of drug probably fueled by bad upbringing.

The family of Abiodun who was at the time the chairman of Heyden Oil and former senatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun East faulted the insinuation by the police that their son, Olugbemiga Abiodun (aka DJ Olu), died of a drug overdose.

The family in a statement signed by Governor Abiodun’s brother, Seye Abiodun, described the death as “tragic and regrettable”.

Olugbemiga, 25, and a friend, Chime Amaechi, were found lifeless in the former’s BMW car parked in the underground garage on Block B, Banana Island, Lagos on a Saturday morning.

Olugbemiga was said to be a close associate of hip hop musician, David Adeleke, aka Davido, while Chime was a member of Davido’s band.

The duo’s death came three days after another friend of Davido, Umeike Tagbo, died at a bar in the Lekki area of Lagos after allegedly taking 10 shots of Tequila. He died on his birthday.

Edgal, at the time, confirmed the deaths and announced the recovery of substances suspected to be drugs from the victims.

He, however, said the police would subject the substances to laboratory tests for identification.

The statement issued at the time by the Abiodun family reads: “The Abiodun family confirms the tragic and regrettable demise of our beloved son, Olugbemiga.

“We know there are many questions as to how or why such tragedy would happen to such great individual but still, God is in control.

“The past few days have been most trying for the family. We are saddened by his demise but we are comforted by the well-wishes and kind thoughts of friends around the world.

“Olugbemiga has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life but few had the pleasure of truly knowing him.

“He was a down to earth, generous, kind-hearted, idealist and selfless individual who was extremely inspirational to many.

“The family hereby pleads with the public to disregard insinuations being peddled by certain sections of the media about the actual cause of our son’s death.

“An official result of the autopsy conducted will be made available as soon as it is ready. Until then, we urge everyone to kindly respect our family’s need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately.

“We remain humble as parents and a family, among several around the world who are bereaved via the tragic loss of a child.

“It is never easy to come to terms with the heart-wrenching and enduring agony that accompanies the death of a loved son.

“But our family will forever treasure memories of the extremely joyous days spent with Olugbemiga, prior to his demise. Those precious memories will stay with us forever. We are privileged to have some of his amazing, magic moments captured in our hearts.

“To everyone who knew him, Olugbemiga was a son and man of immeasurable talent and promise. To those who knew him more personally, he was a consummate artiste and citizen of humanity. We knew him as a devoted son, a loyal and very generous brother and friend.

“We treasure the outpouring of grief, empathy and love from the unbelievably wonderful network of close friends in Nigeria and from around the world.

“Families rarely experience such stirring warmth, compassion and support as have we, from every corner of the planet.

“This has profoundly touched our hearts and lives. We are eternally grateful.

“At this moment, however, we respectfully request the worldwide media to allow us time to grieve privately, without the intrusions associated with press and photography.”

NewsmakersNG learnt that the governor appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu to redeploy Edgal from Ogun State and replace him with someone he could work with.

Besides the issue with the governor, Edgal allegedly offended his predecessor, Mr Bashir Makama, who was promoted as AIG, by assuming office without the proper handing-over-and-taking-over ceremony.

The source said that Makama was on special duties at the time Edgal resumed and began to run the show.

Meanwhile, Edgal has done the mandatory handing-over-and-taking-over on his new posting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State today with CP Kenneth Ebrimson who will be resuming in Ogun State, a familiar terrain, where he once served as Area Commander.

CP Ebrimson came highly recommended as a celebrated crime fighter, who had also accomplished much in Lagos, where he once served under the then CP Mike Okiro as Head of the Special Investigation and Intelligence Bureau.

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