Tobias Sylvester
A former Nigerian Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mustapha Tafa Balogun has died at a hospital in Lekki, Lagos State.
Tafa Balogun Is Dead
It was gathered that the 74-year-old former IGP died after a brief illness on Thursday night, August 5, 2020, a few days to his 75th birthday.
Balogun, who would have clocked 75 on August 8, served as IGP between 2002 and 2005, during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He, however, resigned his position following allegations of corruption against him. After he left office, he was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of benefitting from corruption.
According to the charges filed by the EFCC, he was accused of misappropriating funds of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and was arraigned alongside seven companies alleged to have been used by him to commit the crime.
At the time of his resignation in January 2005, the EFCC said bank accounts containing over N1 billion, alleged to be government funds, were linked to him.
During his trial, there were reports of him being brutalised, which resulted in his hospitalisation in July 2005.
Also, in December 2005, he was rumoured to have died but the EFCC had dismissed the claim, describing it as “propaganda”.
Balogun entered into a plea bargain with the anti-graft agency, after which he was sentenced to six months imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay a fine of N4 million.
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