Mustapha Balogun, a former Inspector General of Police who led Nigeria’s police force from 2002 to 2004, has passed away.
How Did Ex-IG, Tafa Balogun Die?
Tafa Balogun, a former Inspector General of Police, has passed away.
Balogun’s publicist, Dipo Kehinde, informed The PUNCH on Thursday that the actor had passed away.
In a telephone interview, Kehinde stated, “I confirm that ex-IG Balogun passed away at about 8.30pm today (Thursday) in Reddington Hospital, Lekki.”
According to a family friend, Mr. Balogun, also known as Tafa Balogun, was brought to a hospital in Lagos where he passed away on Thursday night. He was 74 years old.
On Monday, the former IGP would have turned 75.
Tafa Balogun Biography
Tafa Balogun, the 21st Inspector-General of Police, was born on August 8th, 1947 in Ila-Orangun, Osun State. He was a cadet in the third class of the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP). Tafa was at one point the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to former Inspector-General of Police Muhammadu Gambo, Deputy Commission of Police Edo State, and the first Commissioner of Police in Delta State after serving in various Police commands across the federation and receiving promotions when they were due. In the states of Rivers and Abia, he was also CP.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Mr. Balogun as IGP. He was relieved of his duties after two years and was later accused by the EFCC with theft and money laundering.
Tafa Balogun Career
In 2005, Mr. Balogun was found guilty by the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court and given a six-month prison term.
He was also mandated to give back N4 million to the Nigerian government by Judge Binta Nyako.
In March 2002, Mr. Balogun took over as the 21st Inspector-General of Police to succeed Musiliu Smith.
He oversaw the police during the 2003 general elections, which Human Rights Watch reported were “marred by major acts of violence, which left scores of dead and many more injured.”
Tafa, a fellow of Nigeria’s top military school, the National War College, later rose to the position of Assistant Inspector General of Police in Kano before being appointed the 21st Inspector General of Police on March 6, 2002.
Balogun was forced to retire because of widespread charges of corruption
Balogun, 74, was made the IG in March 2002 and was forced to quit in January 2005 as a result of significant allegations of corruption.
In 2005, his infamous trial received international notice. Tafa Balogun was charged on April 4, 2005, at the Federal High Court in Abuja with stealing and laundering more than $100 million during his three years as Inspector General of Police.
He was charged with 70 offences by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under Nuhu Ribadu between the years of 2002 and 2004, while he served as the Inspector General of Police. He agreed to a plea deal with the judge in return for giving back most of the goods and cash. He received a six-month prison term.
According to Judge Binta Nyako, Balogun’s sentencing demonstrated that she was a first-time offender and had displayed remorse. The court ordered him to pay N500,000 on each of the eight allegations against him, for a total of N4,000,000.
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His trial was a dramatic mess. One of these incidents occurred on June 29, 2005, before the Abuja High Court when he passed out on his seat.
The former police chief was found guilty and given concurrent six-month sentences for all eight of the 56 counts that directly affected him after entering a guilty plea.
After serving his sentence—part of it at Abuja’s National Hospital—he was freed on February 9, 2006.
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