By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Police Force has strongly refuted a report published by Sahara Reporters on November 10, 2025, alleging that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, “smuggled names” into the Nigeria Police Academy admission list. The Force described the publication as false, malicious, and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and tarnish the reputation of the Police leadership.
In an official statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Police said the report was “a barefaced lie, a product of irresponsible and unethical journalism, and a calculated attempt to incite public disaffection.” Hundeyin stressed that the story was concocted to erode public confidence in the institution, adding that it represented “a clear act of journalistic blackmail and defamation.”
The statement clarified that the admission process into the Nigeria Police Academy remains entirely transparent, merit-based, and guided by due process. According to Hundeyin, for the 2025/2026 academic session, a total of 370 candidates, ten from each state were admitted solely on merit, having satisfied all academic, physical, and character benchmarks required by the Academy.
He explained that while it is not uncommon for well-meaning Nigerians, leaders, or institutions to recommend candidates, such gestures do not influence the final selection. “Under the watch of IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, no name is smuggled, no slot is sold, and no standard is compromised,” he said.
The Police Force, while daring Sahara Reporters to produce a single verifiable name from the approved list that failed to meet the admission criteria, insisted that until such evidence is produced, the publication remains a baseless fabrication designed to malign the institution. “This pattern of targeted misinformation is a direct assault on national institutions and capable of undermining public trust and national security,” the statement added.
Hundeyin maintained that spreading falsehoods against the country’s foremost law enforcement agency does not amount to investigative journalism but rather constitutes “subversive propaganda.” He cautioned Sahara Reporters to desist from its “habitual dissemination of false and malicious reports” or risk legal action.
“The Nigeria Police Force will not hesitate to consult its legal department and explore appropriate legal redress, including defamation proceedings, against Sahara Reporters and any individuals complicit in this misinformation campaign,” the statement warned.
The Force urged members of the public to disregard the Sahara Reporters publication in its entirety, describing it as false, mischievous, and driven by ill intent. “The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute, professional, and unwavering in its commitment to merit, transparency, and accountability. No amount of blackmail or falsehood will distract the Force from its sacred duty of protecting lives, property, and the integrity of our nation,” the statement concluded.
