Activities at the Lagos State Police Command have technically been put on hold as the Command awaits the posting of a new Commissioner of Police (CP).

The outgone CP, Idowu Owohunwa was among the 12 Commissioners of Police who were approved for promotion to the rank of Assistant Inspectors General (AIG) of Police by the Police Service Commission on Thursday October 9, 2012.

The spokesperson for the PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, said the PSC approved the promotion of the CPs to AIGs alongside 19 DCPs to the substantive rank of Commissioners of Police, 21 Assistant Commissioners of Police to the next rank of Deputy Commissioners as well as 33 Chief Superintendents of Police who were elevated to the Assistant Commissioners of Police cadre.

But since his elevation, there has been uneasy calm on who takes over as the new sheriff.

Before Owohunwa was named the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, there were rumours that Frank Mba who is now a Deputy Inspector of Police (DIG), was going to be named the new CP after Sylvester Abiodun Alabi but after many had congratulated Mba, the Police Service Commission announced him as the Ogun State Commissioner of Police.

While new Commissioners of Police have been announced in States such as Niger, Benue and others, no announcement has been made on who replaces Owohunwa.

When The Guardian reached out to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of the State Criminal Investigations Department, Waheed Ayilara who is presiding over the Command before a new commissioner will be appointed, he said: “We still continue our functions. No police station has shut down, and Police officers have continued to perform their roles. Owohunwa just left last week and I don’t think it’s too long. Our PRO is still there to attend to issues regarding public interest.

“Owohunwa did well and you the press rated him well and the Police in Lagos State have rated him well. For now, I’m holding forth till when the substantive CP resumes and we are expecting him any moment from now so, we are available for the public”.

On his part, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, said there is smooth operation in the Command and did not comment on other questions .

Except there is a last-minute change, CP Adegoke Fayoade is believed to be a likely replacement and new Lagos State Commissioner of Police before the end of November 2023.

A source told The Guardian: “He is the person they are waiting for and that is why they appointed Commissioner of Police in states where the commissioners were elevated but hadn’t announced the one for Lagos.”