Joseph Egbunike, a deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), is dead.
He reportedly slumped and died in his office at Force Headquarters in Abuja, late Tuesday.
A source said Egbunike was obese, a condition he managed for years with a combination of measures,.
The top Police officer who hails from Onitsha in Anambra state was said to have undergone a major surgery over an undisclosed ailment a few weeks ago.
The beefy police boss was a graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He held a B.sc (Hons) Accounting, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB Hons.), B.L. and, a Masters in International Law and Diplomacy (MILD) and a PhD in Criminology.
He has gained over 33 years of experience in the Nigeria Police Force.
Until his death, Egbunike was in charge of the highest investigating arm of the Nigeria Police.
Its functions include investigation and prosecution of serious and complex criminal cases within and outside the country. The department also coordinates crime investigations/prosecution throughout the force.
Egbunike had, in late 2021, headed the Special Investigation Panel (SIP), constituted by Usman Baba, the Inspector General of Police, to investigate Abba Kyari, the suspended head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) over fraud allegations with the fraudster, Ramon Abbas, commonly known as Hushpuppi.
The setting up of the panel was sequel to an indictment of Kyari in a case involving Hushpuppi, who was involved in a $1.1million scam against a Qatari businessman in the US District Court of California.
Reports later emerged that the Police Service Commission and the IGP disagreed on the punishment to be meted out to Kyari, over his indictment. While still on this, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), declared the suspended cop and six others wanted over alleged drug offences. A few hours after Kyari and others were declared wanted by the NDLEA, the Nigerian Police Force handed them over to the anti-narcotic agency.
Kyari and six others are currently facing an eight-count criminal charge of drug trafficking. The other defendants in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022, before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, were four members of the Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu, as well as two alleged drug traffickers that were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne. The agency, in the charge it filed through a team of lawyers led by its Director, Prosecution & Legal Services, Mr. Joseph Sunday, specifically accused DCP Kyari and the four other police officers of conspiracy, obstruction, and dealing in Cocaine worth 17.55 kilograms. It is equally alleged that Kyari and his men, who are currently in its custody, also unlawfully tampered with 21.25kg worth of Cocaine.
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 was 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 was an astute financial manager and an apostle of good corporate governance.
Apart from Nigeria Police Mortgage Bank Plc where he represents the NPF Accounts Budget, Joseph also sat on the Board of Nigeria Police Force Property Development & Construction Company Ltd. Joseph attended the Advanced Detective Course, CSP – ACP and ACP – DCP Promotion courses, Police Staff College Jos, Plateau State amongst other local and international professional courses.
He also served as a former Deputy Inspector- General of Police (Department of Finance And Administration); Commissioner of Police, Account and Budget; Secretary, Force Headquarters Purchasing and Tenders Board: a Member of Federal Government Los: Committee; the Accountant of Nigeria Police Cooperative Multi-Purpose Society Limited. He was at various times 2i/c State Intelligence officer, Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) Central Police Station, Onitsha; Patrol and Guard Officer, Ogidi, all in Anambra State Police Command, Divisional Traffic Officer, -Nike: General Investigation, State CID, Enugu State. Joseph was Account Bills Officer, Group Accounts Division (GAD), NNPC Headquarters, Falomo, Lagos during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Similarly, he was a member of the following professional 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.
