Leadership Friction at FCID Alagbon

Some police officers serving at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, have called on the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene in what they described as a lingering leadership dispute. The friction involves the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the FCID, Mrs. Margaret Ochalla, and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, FCID Annex, Lagos, Simeon Udofia Akpanudom.

The officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that the disagreement has created tension within the command and could affect discipline and operational efficiency if not addressed promptly. Their concerns followed allegations circulating within the command over the official deployment of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ngozi Braide, who is currently attached to the FCID Headquarters in Abuja.

Controversy Over ACP Braide's Deployment

According to the officers, ACP Braide has recently been the subject of allegations claiming she abandoned her duty post at the FCID Annex, Alagbon, and had allegedly been absent from duty for several months. The allegations also claimed that a petition had been submitted to the Inspector-General of Police alleging that the senior officer travelled abroad without obtaining the necessary approval from the appropriate police authorities.

However, another group of officers at the FCID Annex disputed these allegations, insisting that ACP Braide was officially deployed to the FCID Headquarters in Abuja on special duty under the supervision of the DIG, FCID. They alleged that the controversy surrounding the officer stemmed from an ongoing disagreement between senior officers within the FCID structure.

ACP Ngozi Braide is currently deployed on special duty at the Force Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters in Abuja. In this capacity, she operates under the direct command and supervision of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, FCID.

— Anonymous Officer, FCID Annex, Nigeria Police Force

Our concern is that the issue has gone beyond administrative disagreements and has resulted in actions capable of undermining discipline within the Force.

— Anonymous Officer, FCID Annex, Nigeria Police Force

Concerns Over Chain of Command

The officers further alleged that official communication had already been made regarding ACP Braide’s deployment. According to them, an independent inquiry within the FCID Annex, Lagos, revealed that the DIG, FCID, Abuja duly informed the AIG, FCID Annex, verbally and through official signals that the ACP in question was on special duty at the FCID Headquarters.

They questioned what they described as a breakdown in the chain of command, emphasizing that adherence to hierarchy remains fundamental to the discipline of the Nigeria Police Force. The situation has reportedly generated significant concern among personnel within the FCID Annex, who fear the rift is creating internal divisions.

The Police Force is a disciplined organisation that respects hierarchy. This development raises questions about compliance with established administrative procedures and respect for constituted authority.

— Anonymous Officer, FCID Annex, Nigeria Police Force

As of the time of filing this report, neither the FCID leadership nor the Force Headquarters had issued an official response to the allegations. Efforts to obtain comments from the office of the DIG, FCID, Mrs. Margaret Ochalla, and the AIG, FCID Annex, Lagos, Simeon Udofia Akpanudom, were unsuccessful. The allegations remain unverified, and there is no official indication that any disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against the officers mentioned.