DIG Joseph Egbunike slumps, dies in Abuja

A Nigerian Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department, Joseph Egbunike, is dead, TopNaija reports.

Egbunike who hails from Onitsha, Anambra State, reportedly slumped and died in his office in Abuja in the late hours of Tuesday.

Until his death, Egbunike headed the Special Investigation Panel constituted by the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to investigate the suspended head of the Police Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari, over money laundering allegations.

Mr Egbunike’s Federal Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID) is widely seen as the most powerful and preoccupied police department.

A spokesman for the police did not immediately return a request for comments about the development.

Until being appointed DIG in late 2020, Mr Egbunike had worked for several years as the head of the police finance department.

He recently led the police team that investigated disgraced officer Abba Kyari, drawing criticism after recommending a demotion, which was widely considered as too mild and uncertain for the charges brought against the officer.