The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has strongly opposed the appointment of CP Akin Fakorede as the head of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Team, citing damning allegations against him.
Speaking on Channels Television on Friday, Wike claimed that Fakorede, who once headed the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Rivers State, had a troubling record of brutality during his posting.
According to the minister, Fakorede had previously been accused of misconduct, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) even petitioning the police to prevent him from taking part in election-related duties.
Wike disclosed that he had expressed his concerns directly to IGP Kayode Egbetokun, warning that Fakorede’s role in the monitoring unit posed a major threat.
“When I heard he was the manager of the monitoring team, I said Nigerians are in trouble,” the former Rivers governor said.
Wike further revealed that he had seen an official INEC report indicting Fakorede and vowed to make it available for public scrutiny.
During the interview, Wike did not hold back his words. “The only policeman, the one they call Akin Fakorede, I hear now is the one in charge of the IG monitoring team. He was in charge of SARS. That was a killer. I repeat, a killer. And I stand by it.”
When pressed by the programme host on his use of such a strong label, the minister doubled down. “There’s no integrity there. Everybody knows Akin Fakorede. I personally complained to IG Kayode, saying if this man is heading the monitoring team, then we are in trouble. Let me tell you, I have gone through too much. There’s nothing they haven’t done to me.”
He continued, “INEC set up a committee that indicted Akin Fakorede. The report exists, and I will get it. INEC even wrote to the police that he should no longer be involved in election duties. That’s the truth. As I sit here today, nobody can intimidate or blackmail me on this matter.”
Wike also hinted that similar patterns of interference were now playing out in Abuja. “This is exactly what is happening in the FCT. Nobody wants you to take the right position or make firm decisions without facing blackmail. Just look at the River Park case as an example.”
Recently, Chronicles Reporters revealed that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, ordered a probe into the controversial land dispute at River Park Estate in Abuja. Allegations surfaced that the Head of the IGP Monitoring Unit, DCP Akin Fakorede, and others had taken sides in the dispute, despite the Attorney-General of the Federation and a ministerial committee reviewing the case.
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