How phone call stopped change of guard in Lagos

Taiwo Jimoh and Stanley Ihedigbo

A mild-drama played out yesterday at the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, just as the Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi was about to hand over the baton of leadership to the supposed incoming CP, Kayode Egbetokun.

The handover, which commenced at about 3pm, was about to go into full swing when Imohimi suddenly received a life changing phone call.

Immediately Imohimi received the call, he looked at the faces of policemen, Egbetokun and journalists and said: “The status quo remains! There’s no change of guard for now.”

A shock wave rippled through the gathering. Incidentally, the call came moments after Imohimi jokingly told journalists, “ You people don’t want me in Lagos, I shall leave” and with that statement embarked on a tour of his office with Egbetokun. Earlier, Imohimi had cleared the office of his personal effects and was merely showing Egbetokun the place that would soon be his office.

But alas, Egbetokun may have to wait for a while, as the powers that be, halted the handover ceremony.

Imohimi said: “There is no change of guard for now. I remain the Lagos State Commissioner of Police. I’m sure  that Kayode Egbetokun  is an old timer in the command. Our first job  as policemen is to obey orders and directives. We were about concluding  the handover and taking over procedure when we were instructed by our bosses from Abuja to suspend action for now. There is no change of guard for now. Of course, we will keep the press in touch with latest development.”

Egbetokun, who was standing beside Imohimi when he made the comment, tried to look unruffled. He calmly returned to the seat he had been sitting before the tour of ‘his new office’ commenced. Clearly unease as whispers reechoed, Egbetokun walked out of the office, made a beeline for his car which was parked downstairs and furiously drove off, followed by his bemused escorts.

Egbetokun, who had apparently been anticipating and savouring his new position, was said to have parked his car right at the parking spot reserved for only Lagos State Commissioner of Police. In fact, he and Imohimi parked their cars on the spot, which is meant for just one car. The two cars appeared to be fighting for right of space, which symbolically mirrored the dispositions of Imohimi and Egbetokun.

The news that Imohimi remains the number policeman in the state travelled like wildfire. Senior policemen, who were waiting to have a meeting with Imohimi in the Mohammed Abubakar Conference Hall, were the first to erupt into shouts of joy and jubilation. Policemen attached to Imohimi’s convoy shot four times into the air to celebrate the news.

This is not the first such a drama has played out in Lagos State. Whenever an old guard is supposed to handover to a new one, there is usually a drama. It can be recalled that when Imohimi was announced as the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, his successor, Fatai Owoseni, had refused to handover, insisting that he had not received official signal from Abuja showing his transfer.