A brief profile of DIG Joseph Egbunike (From Onitsha, Anambra State)
Egbunike graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, with B.sc (Hons) Accounting, he also holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB Hons.), B.L. and a Masters in International Law and Diplomacy (MILD) and PhD in Criminology.
He has bagged about 33 years’ experience in Nigeria Police Force and currently serves as Deputy inspector general of police
Joseph had a stint at the Group Accounts Division at the NNPC Headquarters, Falomo as Account Bills Officer, during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Professionally, he is a member of the following bodies: International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP); Association of National Accountant of Nigeria (ANAN); Nigeria Bar Association (NBA); Member, Institute of Cost Management (ICM); Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM); and Member, Chartered Institute of Fraud Examiners.
Joseph is an astute financial manager and an apostle of good corporate governance. He is happily married and blessed with children.
On the 1st of February, 2021, the tenure of the inspector general of police, IGP Adamu Mohamed came to an end and the search began for a new IGP.
Although his tenure has been extended by president Buhari, the fact remains that he is set to bid the force goodbye leaving it for another Officer will take up his duties.
Over time, there have been huge discussions by the people of the southeastern extraction to get an appointment that will place the region on the map.
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With cries of marginalization coming from left right and centre, the Igbo man has always complained of not being carried along with the presidency and the political permutations of the country.
Taking an example with the recent appointments for the country’s service chiefs, it was expected that the president would at least, favour the region by appointing one of their own as a service chief but the results came out and as usual, non was from the region.
As the presidency prepares to announce the new IGP, it is pertinent to also make it public that there are true, indigenes of this region that have made outstanding records in the police force and who also merit the position of the inspector general of police.
Going by the amended Police Act which permits only the appointment of only officers on DIG and AIG cadres as IGP, the president would have to choose from the current DIGs and AIGs.
Eligible DIGs are Sanusi Lemu, Usman Baba, David Folayiwo, Joseph Egbunike and Moses Jitoboh.
The AIGs are Garba Umar, Bello Sadiq, Illiyasu Ahmed, Dibal Yakadi, Zaki Ahmed, HH Karma, Baba Tijjani, Hafiz Inuwa, Lawal Ado, Austin Abonlahor and Isaac Akinmoyede.
Others are Dan Bature, Awuna Donald, Uba Kura, Johnson Kokumo, Zana Ibrahim, Murtala Usman, Maurice Abimbola, Bala Zama, Basen Dapiya, Haruna Mshelia, Aishatu Abubakar, Garba Umar, Aminu Pai, Gwandu Abubakar Omolulu Bishi, Ajani Olasupo and Dasuki Galadanci.
From the list of eligible candidates, Only Joseph Egbunike is the officer from the south-east who will be picked as the IGP if the president decides to zone to police leadership to the region. He is of the accounts and finance section of the force even as he holds a degree in Law, a Master’s degree in Law and a PhD in Criminology.
He has put in about 33 years of meticulous service into the police force.
By the law, officers are either retired at age 60 or after putting in 35 years in service.
The closet candidates are from the south-south extraction who already boasts of other appointments like the outgoing chief of naval staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas from crosses rivers state and the recently appointed Chief of Defense Staff, Major General Leo Irabor, hailed from Ika South of Delta State.