March 8, 2026
News | Breaking
Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has removed Commissioner of Police Akin Fakorede as the Head of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit at the Force Headquarters in Abuja amid mounting allegations of corruption, human rights abuses and professional misconduct.
SUNTV Global Channel gathered from reliable police sources on Sunday that the decision was taken by the IGP following a series of controversies linked to Fakorede’s activities while leading the powerful monitoring unit.
Fakorede, a former commander of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), was appointed to head the IGP Monitoring Unit in December 2024 by former Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun. His appointment had sparked immediate backlash from civil society organisations and human rights groups who cited his alleged history of brutality and misconduct while serving in Rivers State.
Critics argued at the time that placing Fakorede in charge of a unit responsible for monitoring police operations across the country could erode public trust in the Nigeria Police Force.
During his tenure, the monitoring unit was repeatedly accused of unprofessional conduct and human rights violations. One of the most controversial incidents occurred during a land dispute at River Park Estate in Abuja, where Fakorede was accused of siding against Ghanaian investors involved in the property conflict.
In January 2026, operatives attached to the unit were also accused of attacking journalists and workers during a protest linked to the same dispute, further intensifying public criticism of Fakorede’s leadership.
The controversy surrounding Fakorede was also fueled by remarks from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who had previously described him as a “killer” with a troubling record during his time as SARS commander in Rivers State.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television in September 2025, Wike openly criticised Fakorede’s appointment to the IGP Monitoring Unit, alleging that the officer had a history of brutality and election interference.
According to Wike, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had previously written to the police requesting that Fakorede be barred from participating in election-related duties due to concerns about his conduct.
Fakorede’s leadership also drew scrutiny during investigations into the activities of suspected international fraudster Jesam Michael, Chief Executive Officer of the Afriq Arbitrage System (AAS).
Investigative findings had alleged that Michael’s arrest was delayed despite evidence linking his platform to a massive Ponzi scheme that allegedly defrauded over 56,000 investors and facilitated more than 590,000 illegal financial transactions.
Authorities reportedly traced approximately $1.6 billion to digital wallets associated with the platform, raising serious questions about how the operation had continued for so long without decisive law enforcement action.
Sources familiar with internal police discussions claimed Fakorede repeatedly dismissed evidence against Michael and insisted on his innocence despite mounting complaints from victims.
Police authorities have yet to officially announce Fakorede’s replacement as Head of the IGP Monitoring Unit as of the time of filing this report.
The development marks one of the most significant internal shake-ups within the Nigeria Police Force since Disu assumed office as Inspector-General, signaling what observers say could be a broader attempt to address longstanding allegations of misconduct within the force.
