Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, is reportedly grappling with serious health issues linked to a kidney condition, SaharaReporters has learned.
Sources disclosed that Egbetokun underwent a kidney transplant years ago while serving as a Chief Superintendent of Police and has since been operating with a single kidney. The physical demands of his current role, coupled with the limitations from his medical history, have reportedly taken a toll on his health.
Due to his condition, the IGP is said to restrict his hours at the Force Headquarters, usually arriving around 1 p.m. and leaving early. He is believed to work mainly at night from his residence, which has been equipped with a makeshift clinic.
In March, SaharaReporters reported that Egbetokun had planned to attend a UK security conference, which would have also allowed him to seek medical treatment. However, the trip was cancelled amid political pressure on President Bola Tinubu to replace him, forcing the IGP to remain in Nigeria.
According to a March 4, 2025 letter, Egbetokun formally sought the President’s approval to attend the Government Global Security Event in London. The request was declined, reportedly due to concerns over the optics of seeking medical care abroad while facing internal calls for his removal.
Sources say the President is under increasing pressure to replace Egbetokun, and Deputy Inspector-General Idegwu Basil Okuoma is among those being considered as a successor.
The IGP’s health issues and the uncertainty surrounding his position have allegedly left him anxious, with insiders confirming that stress has further worsened his medical condition.
