The news of Lagos Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal transfer to Abuja has find its way too many headlines of newspapers and blogs shortly after the transfer was made public. Event took a different turn yesterday, when both the out-going CP and the newly appointed resumed office together as commissioners of Lagos.
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 “order from the police headquarters in Abuja”.
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: “Gentlemen 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.”
“I 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,” he said.
He did not entertain any question.
Egbetokun, who came with his personal effect and his personal staff, left the command, saying: “We are government agents and we are always taking directives.”
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 Edgal’s convoy shot four times into the air to celebrate the “good news.”
On arrival, Egbetokun’s car had been parked at CP’s parking lot while Edgal’s 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 IG’s Office came in and directed that the change of guard be put on hold till further notice.
After the announcement, Egbetokun’s vehicle was replaced at the parking lot with Edgal’s.