Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A group of police officers has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, over the alleged three-month unauthorised absence from duty and an unauthorised foreign trip by their commanding officer, ACP Ngozi Braide, who heads the IGP Monitoring Unit, Lagos Annex. The petition, which was reportedly submitted in late July 2026, accuses the senior officer of abandoning her official responsibilities for approximately three months without obtaining the requisite approval from the Force Headquarters, thereby leaving her unit without effective leadership and disrupting its operational effectiveness.
According to sources familiar with the development, the officers expressed deep frustration over what they described as a prolonged period of administrative vacuum, during which Braide was allegedly unavailable for duty while also embarking on an international trip that was not sanctioned by the police high command. The petitioners are said to have requested the Inspector-General to intervene by investigating the alleged misconduct and taking appropriate disciplinary action in line with the provisions of the Public Service Rules and the Force's internal regulations. The officers also called for the immediate recall of the officer or the appointment of a substantive replacement to restore stability and command authority within the unit.
ACP Braide, a seasoned officer who has served in various capacities within the Nigeria Police Force, including as the first female Police Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Command, has been the head of the IGP Monitoring Unit, Lagos Annex, since 2020. She has also served in several specialised units, including the Commercial Fraud Unit and the Oil and Gas Fraud Section, and has represented Nigeria in international peacekeeping missions, including a stint with the United Nations Police in Liberia. Her career has not been without controversy, however. In 2013, she was the subject of an open letter to the then Inspector-General of Police over allegations of unprofessional conduct, and more recently, she was named as a respondent in a court case involving a contract dispute with popular comedian Nedu Wazobia.
The IGP Monitoring Unit, which Braide heads, is a critical component of the Nigeria Police Force's internal oversight mechanism, tasked with handling sensitive investigations, including allegations of misconduct against police officers and other high-profile cases. The unit's operations require consistent and effective leadership, and the prolonged absence of its head is likely to have hindered its ability to function optimally, potentially affecting ongoing investigations and eroding the morale of personnel under her command.
The petition comes at a time when the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has been emphasising discipline, accountability, and professionalism within the Force. In recent months, the IGP has taken disciplinary action against several officers for various infractions, including extortion, misconduct, and dereliction of duty. In July 2026, a police inspector was reduced in rank for misconduct, while five corporals were dismissed over alleged involvement in a kidnapping and extortion syndicate in Edo State. The outcome of the petition against Braide will therefore be closely watched as a test of the IGP's commitment to enforcing discipline at all levels of the Force.
As of the time of this report, the Nigeria Police Force had not issued an official statement on the petition. When contacted, spokespersons for the Force declined to comment, stating that the matter was still under review. However, sources within the Force Headquarters indicated that the petition had been received and would be investigated in accordance with established procedures. Braide, who has not yet publicly responded to the allegations, is reportedly still abroad, according to sources close to the matter. It remains unclear when she is expected to return to duty or whether she has communicated her whereabouts to her superiors.
The case has raised broader questions about accountability and oversight within the Nigeria Police Force, particularly regarding senior officers who may be perceived as being above the law. The officers' decision to petition the Inspector-General directly reflects growing frustration among rank-and-file personnel over what they see as a lack of accountability among their superiors. As the investigation unfolds, the outcome will be closely monitored by both serving officers and members of the public who are increasingly demanding transparency and discipline in the country's law enforcement agencies. For now, the fate of ACP Ngozi Braide hangs in the balance, with her subordinates waiting for answers and the police leadership facing a crucial test of its commitment to enforcing its own rules.
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