The controversial and meteoric rise of Bukola Kuti, the Principal Staff Officer (PSO 3) to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has peeled back a sordid layer of scandal, favoritism, and internal warfare inside Nigeria’s highest policing institution.

SaharaReporters learnt on Saturday that there have been clashes between Kuti and other female police officers in the IGP office whom she accused of having amorous affairs with the police boss and fought in a bid to dominate and silence them. 

SaharaReporters earlier on Friday reported that there is a storm of controversy in the Nigeria Police Force over the preferential promotion of Kuti, who is romantically involved with the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, amid allegations of favouritism in the Force. Secret affairsPolice romanceSaharaReporters learnt that Bukola Kuti, once a junior officer, now sits as an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) an unprecedented promotion achieved within just 10 years of joining the Nigeria Police Force. 

Sources told SaharaReporters that her professional ascent has little to do with competence or merit. 

This is the state of affairs inside Nigeria’s Police Force leadership a toxic mix of sexual politics, tribal favoritism, and unchecked power. 

The IGP’s office, once expected to be a sanctuary of integrity and leadership, has become a theatre of petty rivalries, manipulation, and moral collapse.

SaharaReporters on Friday reported that multiple sources within the force confirmed that Kuti, who currently serves as PSO 3 (Principal Staff Officer) to the IGP, had risen to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), just 10 years after joining the force.

Insiders have described this as highly irregular and far ahead of her contemporaries, many of whom remain at the Superintendent of Police (SP) level.

On Wednesday, SaharaReporters reported that the Police Service Commission (PSC) had approved the special promotion of 37 senior police officers handpicked by Egbetokun, but internal uproar within the force had stalled the public announcement of the list, SaharaReporters learnt.

SaharaReporters gathered that the promotions, largely considered controversial, have sparked ethnic and institutional tensions within the Nigeria Police Force.

What has also sparked particular outrage is that Kuti reportedly spent only six months as a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) before receiving the controversial promotion to ACP — a career trajectory seen by many within the force as a product of her close personal ties to the IGP rather than merit or seniority.

In January, Kuti was among the police officers decorated with new ranks by IGP Egbetokun during a ceremony held at the Louis Edet House, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Sources further revealed that Bukola Kuti is one of two female officers handling the IGP’s personal and domestic affairs.

The second officer, identified only as Yemisi, holds the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and is said to accompany the IGP on official and personal trips frequently.

Yemisi, who reportedly began her service as Egbetokun’s orderly, allegedly relocated to Abuja after he was appointed Acting Inspector General of Police in June 2023 by President Bola Tinubu, replacing former IGP Usman Alkali Baba.

“Kuti’s mates are police superintendents. She had only spent six months in the CSP rank before she was promoted to ACP,” one of the sources said.

“She handles IGP domestic affairs in addition to another lady called Yemisi, who constantly travels with the IGP. Yemisi is also an ASP.”

Despite her elevated rank, Bukola Kuti is reportedly not involved in substantive police work. Instead, she is said to operate primarily as a contractor responsible for providing catering services within the police establishment.

"This woman doesn’t even do real police work," said one source. "She handles domestic duties and contracts, but keeps rising above others who actually work. She is responsible for cooking as a contractor for police work."

Her promotion has left many officers demoralised, especially those who joined the force around the same time but remain in lower positions despite years of service and experience.

According to insiders, the police leadership has refrained from making her latest promotion public due to the sensitivity of the matter and fears of backlash over ethnic imbalance in recent special promotions under IGP Egbetokun’s tenure.

In a related development, Asuquo, another senior staff officer believed to have been responsible for managing the IGP’s official workload, was removed in connection with the recent age falsification scandal that rocked the force. 

His removal cleared the way for Kuti’s promotion and expanded influence.

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that out of the 37 officers promoted under “special consideration,” 30 were allegedly of Yoruba origin — fuelling growing concerns that IGP Egbetokun is presiding over a regionally biased or “provincial” police leadership.

The development has sparked discontent across various police commands, particularly among officers who believe they were overlooked for promotion despite being qualified, allegedly due to ethnic considerations.

According to sources, suggestions had been made to release the list in batches to avoid backlash, but pressure was mounting on the PSC to go ahead and publish the entire list despite the ongoing internal discontent.

“There have been suggestions to release the list in batches to ease tensions within the police force, particularly among officers who were overlooked for promotion due to ethnic bias,” a source said.

Several of the promoted officers are said to be close associates of the IGP, either currently working with him on the 7th floor of the Force Headquarters in Abuja or longstanding allies from his previous postings. 

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