The tale of Tafa Balogun’s descent from the prestigious position of Inspector General of the Nigerian Police Force to a prison cell is marked by a series of events that unfolded over the years.
Mustafa Adebayo Balogun embarked on his journey in law enforcement when he joined the Nigeria Police Force in May 1973. His dedication and service eventually led to his appointment as the 11th Inspector General in March 2002. Born on August 25, 1947, in Ila-Orangun, Osun State, Nigeria, Balogun pursued his education at the University of Lagos, graduating with a B.A. in political science in 1972. Concurrently, he pursued a law degree from the University of Ibadan while working as a police officer.
Throughout his career, Balogun held various key positions within the police force, including principal staff officer for former Inspector-General of Police Muhammadu Gambo, deputy commissioner of police in Edo State, commissioner of police in Delta State, Rivers State, and Abia State. Following his appointment as the Inspector General of Police, he took charge of Zone One, Kano, as the Assistant Inspector General.
Balogun’s tenure as the Inspector General was not without challenges. He inherited a turbulent period in Nigerian politics during the national elections in April 2003, which were marred by allegations of police misconduct. Amidst this tumultuous environment, Balogun advocated for electoral reform and emphasized the importance of national identity cards, citizen participation in governance, and the establishment of a constitutional court.
Despite his efforts to enhance security and maintain order, Balogun faced setbacks, such as the unrest and violence that erupted during the Commonwealth of Nations conference in December 2003. The situation escalated in 2004 when rioting occurred, leading to severe injuries among reporters and the destruction of their equipment.
Ultimately, Tafa Balogun’s once illustrious career as the Inspector General of the Nigerian Police Force came to a dramatic end as he found himself relegated from overseeing law enforcement operations to occupying a jail cell, a stark reminder of a fall from grace. As a consequence of the unfortunate event, Balogun extended his apologies and pledged to hold those responsible accountable. Assuring the affected parties within the same year that thorough investigations would be conducted and the instigators of the unrest would face legal consequences. Subsequently, as he made these commitments, newspapers began to widely accuse him of corruption before the conclusion of 2004. Allegations arose that Balogun misappropriated public funds and received illicit payments from both officials and criminals. Consequently, he was compelled to retire in January 2005.
On April 4, 2005, the Federal High Court in Abuja charged Balogun with receiving approximately N13 billion through theft, money laundering, and other illicit means. Various investigations carried out by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under Nuhu Ribadu’s leadership substantiated the claims against him. Balogun faced a total of 70 charges by the EFCC between 2002 and 2004. However, he entered into a plea agreement with the court, agreeing to return a significant portion of the assets and money obtained illegally.
Consequently, Balogun was sentenced to six months in Kuje Prison. He completed his incarceration term, serving part of it at Abuja National Hospital, and was eventually released on February 9, 2006. Tragically, on August 4, 2022, Tafa Balogun passed away at a hospital in Lekki, Lagos, following a diagnosis of a minor illness.
