By Adewole Kehinde
The decision by former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, to seek civil redress against falsehoods allegedly published against him is, in my view, a courageous, necessary and commendable step. It sends a clear message that public service should not strip anyone of the right to protect their reputation, dignity and integrity against allegations they consider false and damaging.
In a democratic society, freedom of expression and freedom of the press are fundamental rights that must be protected. However, these freedoms must go hand in hand with responsibility, fairness, accuracy and accountability. Journalism should be a tool for exposing wrongdoing, promoting transparency and holding public officials accountable, not an instrument for spreading unsubstantiated claims or deliberately damaging the reputations of individuals.
I strongly believe that when a public figure considers a publication false and injurious to his reputation, seeking redress through the courts is one of the most responsible courses of action available. Rather than resorting to personal attacks, intimidation or unnecessary public exchanges, civil action provides an opportunity for the parties to present their positions before a competent court of law.
For this reason, I consider Egbetokun’s reported decision to pursue civil remedies a positive development. It is a demonstration that he is prepared to defend his name through lawful means and allow the judicial process to determine the issues in dispute.
Why Are People of Integrity Often Targets of Media Falsehoods?
One question that continues to trouble me is why individuals perceived to be incorruptible, disciplined and unwilling to compromise their principles sometimes become targets of persistent media attacks and allegations.
Why should a public officer who believes in due process, discipline and accountability have to contend with repeated narratives capable of undermining years of dedicated service?
It is a question worth asking, particularly in a society where sensational headlines and unverified allegations can travel faster than corrections, explanations or established facts.
Public officials must not be above scrutiny. Nobody who occupies public office should be shielded from legitimate criticism or investigation. However, there must be a clear distinction between responsible investigative journalism and the publication of claims without adequate verification.
Where allegations are supported by credible evidence, the public deserves to know. Where claims are disputed, the individuals concerned deserve a fair opportunity to respond, and the public deserves an accurate account of the facts.
The media must not confuse criticism with persecution or mistake an individual’s silence for an admission that allegations are true.
In Egbetokun’s case, I believe his decision to pursue civil action, rather than engage in endless public exchanges, deserves consideration on its own merits. It offers an opportunity to address the disputed claims through a lawful process.
Egbetokun: A Welfarist to the Core
Having followed developments around the Nigeria Police Force and the administration of the former IGP, I regard Egbetokun as a leader whose approach to police welfare deserves recognition.
During his tenure, he was widely regarded by supporters and admirers within the Force as a welfare-conscious leader who placed considerable emphasis on the needs of officers and their families. In my assessment, his strongest appeal was among the rank-and-file personnel, who often look to leadership not merely for instructions but also for protection, support and recognition of their sacrifices.
The police institution is one in which officers routinely confront danger, separation from their families, demanding working conditions and the uncertainty of operational assignments. A leader who pays attention to their welfare understands that the effectiveness of the Force depends not only on equipment, training and discipline but also on the well-being and morale of its personnel.
To me, Egbetokun’s reputation as a welfarist is one of the defining aspects of his public service.
His reported efforts to address outstanding benefits for families of fallen police officers are particularly significant. The clearance of a 13-year backlog of payments, as reported during his administration, represents a major welfare intervention that deserves recognition and careful documentation.
Behind every unpaid benefit is a family that may have spent years waiting for assistance after losing a breadwinner in the line of duty. Such delays can deepen the suffering of widows, children and other dependants who have already paid a painful price for national service.
Addressing that backlog was therefore more than an administrative exercise. It was an intervention with profound human consequences.
The families of fallen officers deserve to be treated with dignity, and the sacrifices of those who gave their lives in service to the country should never be forgotten. Any administration that makes meaningful progress in resolving longstanding welfare obligations deserves credit for that effort.
A Leader Who Values Diligence and Thoroughness
Another quality I particularly associate with Egbetokun is his attention to detail and his reported commitment to reading and understanding official documents before making decisions.
In an era when senior public officers are often confronted with enormous volumes of correspondence, reports and memoranda, the ability to study documents carefully is an important leadership attribute.
I have consistently regarded Egbetokun as a thorough reader. A 100-page memorandum, for instance, would not necessarily intimidate him or discourage him from examining its contents. His approach, as I understand it, is to go through documents carefully, line by line, to understand the issues being presented and the implications of the recommendations.
That kind of diligence matters in an institution as sensitive as the Nigeria Police Force, where decisions can affect careers, operational deployments, public safety, discipline and the welfare of thousands of personnel.
A leader who takes the time to understand the details of a proposal is better positioned to ask relevant questions, identify inconsistencies and make informed decisions.
It is one thing to receive a memorandum and sign it; it is another to understand its contents, consider its implications and take responsibility for the decision that follows.
In my view, Egbetokun’s emphasis on careful reading and thorough consideration reflects the importance of intellectual discipline in public administration.
Integrity, Efficiency and Compassion
Public leadership requires more than occupying an office or issuing directives. It requires character, consistency and the willingness to make decisions based on established principles rather than personal convenience.
I regard Egbetokun as a public officer who placed considerable importance on diligence and procedural discipline. His supporters see him as a man who was unwilling to cut corners and who maintained a strong aversion to gratification and improper inducements.
These are qualities that should be encouraged in public institutions, particularly in law enforcement, where public confidence depends heavily on the perceived integrity of those entrusted with authority.
An officer who refuses to compromise established procedures sends a message that public office is a responsibility, not an opportunity for personal enrichment.
Similarly, efficiency in policing should not be measured exclusively by arrests, prosecutions, crime statistics or operational achievements. It should also be measured by the quality of administration, the treatment of personnel, the resolution of longstanding institutional problems and the capacity to respond compassionately to those who need assistance.
This is why the welfare initiatives associated with Egbetokun’s tenure deserve attention alongside assessments of his operational leadership.
A police force cannot function at its best when its personnel feel neglected or when the families of officers who die in service are left waiting indefinitely for benefits. Welfare is not a luxury in policing; it is an essential component of institutional effectiveness.
His Silence Should Not Be Misinterpreted
One of the most important points to make about Egbetokun is that silence in the face of allegations should not automatically be interpreted as an admission of wrongdoing.
There are several reasons a person may choose not to respond immediately to every allegation. A public figure may prefer to avoid giving additional publicity to a disputed narrative, may wish to preserve the integrity of a legal process or may simply consider a public argument unproductive.
In my assessment, Egbetokun’s decision not to engage in endless exchanges over every claim attributed to him should not be treated as proof that such claims are accurate.
At the same time, silence alone does not establish that an allegation is false. The proper course is to examine the available evidence, consider the responses of the parties involved and allow the relevant legal processes to run their course.
This is precisely why civil action can be useful. It provides a structured avenue for resolving disputes over alleged falsehoods and reputational harm.
The courts, rather than social media speculation or the loudest voices in the public arena, should determine the legal questions placed before them.
Those who publish allegations must be prepared to stand by their work and demonstrate that they acted responsibly. Equally, those who feel wronged must be willing to submit their complaints to lawful scrutiny.
That is how a society strengthens both freedom of the press and the right to personal dignity.
Egbetokun’s Experience Remains Valuable to Nigeria
Beyond the current controversy, Nigeria must not lose sight of the experience accumulated by former IGP Egbetokun during his years in public service.
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu requires the contributions of experienced professionals who understand public institutions, security administration, operational discipline and the complex relationship between law enforcement and citizens.
Egbetokun’s years in the Nigeria Police Force have given him considerable exposure to the demands of national policing, institutional management and security coordination. Whatever position one takes on his record, that experience is an asset that should be assessed objectively.
I believe his wealth of experience could be valuable to the Tinubu administration in an appropriate advisory, institutional or public-service capacity, should the President consider it necessary and consistent with the country’s interests.
This is not a call for anyone to be exempted from scrutiny. Rather, it is an argument for separating legitimate accountability from the tendency to dismiss an individual’s entire record because of disputed allegations or public controversy.
A country that hopes to build strong institutions must learn to evaluate public servants on the basis of evidence, performance, integrity and demonstrable contributions.
If there are credible allegations against any former public officer, they should be investigated fairly. If there is evidence of wrongdoing, the law should take its course. But where claims are disputed, a person’s record should not be destroyed by unverified narratives before the facts are established.
The Media Must Uphold Its Own Standards
As a media practitioner, I believe journalists and publishers have an important responsibility to protect the credibility of the profession.
Investigative journalism is indispensable to democracy. It exposes corruption, uncovers abuses of power and gives citizens information they need to hold leaders accountable. However, the credibility of this work depends on verification, fairness, context and the willingness to correct mistakes.
The publication of serious allegations requires more than anonymous claims, insinuations or the repetition of information circulating online. Reporters should examine documents, seek responses from the persons concerned, distinguish facts from allegations and avoid presenting unproven claims as established truth.
When a publication gets the facts wrong, a prompt and transparent correction is a sign of professionalism, not weakness.
Likewise, where an individual believes that falsehood has damaged his reputation, the right to seek legal redress should be respected.
The purpose of civil action should not be to silence legitimate criticism or intimidate journalists who are doing their jobs responsibly. Its proper role is to provide a lawful means of resolving disputes and determining whether the rights of the parties have been violated.
That balance is essential to a healthy democracy.
Conclusion: Let the Facts Speak
Former IGP Kayode Egbetokun served at the highest level of the Nigeria Police Force, an institution that operates under intense public scrutiny and faces enormous security challenges. His tenure, like that of any senior public official, should be examined honestly, with recognition of both achievements and shortcomings where established by evidence.
However, allegations should not automatically become convictions in the court of public opinion.
I believe Egbetokun has taken a commendable step by choosing civil action as a means of addressing the falsehoods he believes have been circulated against him. It is a lawful route that allows the disputed issues to be examined without reducing the matter to an endless exchange of accusations.
His supporters will remember his welfare initiatives, his attention to administrative detail, his diligence and his concern for the families of fallen police officers. His critics are equally entitled to express their views, provided they do so responsibly and within the law.
Ultimately, the objective should be truth, not sensationalism; accountability, not persecution; and justice, not trial by social media.
Nigeria needs a media culture that is courageous enough to investigate wrongdoing, disciplined enough to verify its claims and responsible enough to correct errors. It also needs public officials who are willing to defend their reputations through lawful means and accept the outcomes of legitimate scrutiny.
For me, Egbetokun’s decision to seek civil redress reinforces an important principle: a person’s reputation should not be surrendered to allegations merely because that person once occupied a powerful public office.
Let the evidence be presented. Let the law take its course. And let the truth, rather than speculation, determine the final judgment.
Adewole Kehinde is a Public Affairs Analyst based in Abuja, Nigeria. 08166240846. kennyadewole@gmail.com