Newly sworn-in Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tunji Disu has declared that the establishment of state police in Nigeria has come to stay.

Speaking to reporters on the committee for state police implementation after his official swearing-in by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Disu emphasized that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is not opposed to the initiative but views it as a critical partnership to strengthen national security.

JomogNews had reported that President Bola Tinubu recently asked Nigerian senators to expedite action to enact a law for the establishment of state police.

Speaking on Wednesday, the new IGP said, “From the angle of the Nigerian Police, we don’t want it to seem as if others are taking decisions, and we, the most important people concerned, didn’t do anything.

“We want to ensure that the best thing is done. The police should be able to contribute and do their own part in making it succeed.

“The police are not afraid. Our jobs are not being taken; it’s just an issue of partnership.”

President Bola Tinubu has officially sworn in Olatunji Rilwan Disu as the 23rd substantive Inspector-General of Police (IGP) on Wednesday.

The ceremony took place at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, just before the first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of 2026.

The Disu took the oath of office shortly before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

The President also administered the oath of office to six commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and two from the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).

The ceremonies were witnessed by ministers, senior government officials, and family members of the appointees.

The council meeting began shortly after the swearing-in ceremonies.

In attendance were Vice President Kashim Shettima; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Esther Walson-Jack.

Disu was appointed as the acting IGP on February 25, 2026, by Tinubu, following the resignation of former IGP Kayode Egbetokun.

Disu was decorated as acting IGP by President Bola Tinubu in February, 2026.
His appointment was endorsed by the Nigeria Police Council (NPC).

The former Assistant Inspector-General assumed office last Wednesday.

He had previously served as AIG in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, after his promotion to the rank last year.

Disu, a former head of the Lagos Rapid Response Squad (RRS), has promised to provide an accountable, modern, and professional policing.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has formally taken over the prosecution of his predecessor, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his son, Abdulaziz, from the Department of State Services (DSS).

Malami faces terrorism and illegal firearms possession charges brought against him by the Department of the State Service (DSS).

Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) took over the trial from the DSS on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, announced the attorney general’s appearance in the matter.

Oyedepo told Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that the trial cannot proceed because Fagbemi has just taken over the prosecution.

He informed the court that the prosecution needed more time to familiarise itself with the facts of the case.

Counsel to the defendants, Adedayo Adedeji, who did not oppose the application, however urged the court to strike out the matter if the prosecution fails to open its case at the next adjourned date, citing lack of diligent prosecution.

Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter to March 10 for trial and for the prosecution to formally open its case.

The Court had on February 27 admitted Malami and his son, Abdulaziz to ₦200m bail, with two sureties, each one of whom must own landed property either in Maitama or Asokoro.

Justice Abdulmalik had said that the title of the property must be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court along with valid international passports.

The sureties were also ordered to depose to affidavit of means and submit their two recent passport photographs with the court.

Malami and his son were also ordered to submit their international passports and recent passport photographs to the court.

The DSS had arraigned Malami and his son, Abdulaziz on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism and illegal firearms possession.

In the charge, marked, FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Malami is also accused of refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers, whose case files were handed to him while he served as the AGF and Minister of Justice.

Malami and Abdulaziz are equally accused of warehousing firearms in their residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birain Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State without lawful authority.

The DSS accused Malami in count one of the charge, with knowingly abetting terrorism financing, while the ex-AGF and his son are charged in counts two to five, with unlawful, possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5720 live rounds of cartridges and 27 expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, contrary to and punishable under relevant Sections of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and Firearms Act, 2004.

“That you, Abubakar Malami of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, Adult, male, sometime in November, 2022 at Federal Ministry of Justice, Maitama, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did knowingly abet terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers whose casefiles were brought to your office as the Attorney-General of the Federation, for prosecution, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 (2) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022,” the charge sheet read.

“Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami of Gesse Phase II, Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December, 2025, in your res:dence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did engage in a conduct in preparation to commit act of terrorism by having in your possession and without licence, a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, Sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5°20 live rounds of Cartridges and Twenty-Seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5’20 Cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 29 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 .

“That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without licence, did have in your possession a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.

“That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without licence, did have in your possession sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.

“That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without licence, did have in your possession twenty-seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.”