IBADAN,Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- President Muhammadu Buhari has joined family, friends, and associates in mourning the death of former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mustapha Balogun.
74-year-old former Inspector-General of Police, Mustapha Balogun served as Nigeria’s top police chief between 2002 and 2004
Balogun (popularly known as Tafa Balogun) was rushed to a hospital in Lagos where he passed on Thursday evening.
Appointed IGP by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr Balogun was eased out of office after two years and was charged with stealing and money laundering by the EFCC.
An Abuja Division of the Federal High Court convicted Mr Balogun in 2005 after a plea bargain and sentenced him to six months in prison.
The judge, Binta Nyako, also ordered him to return N4 million to the Nigerian government.
Mr Balogun was the 21st Inspector-General of Police and replaced Musiliu Smith in March 2002.
In a condolence message by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina on Friday in Abuja, the president also mourned with the Nigeria Police Force, an institution Balogun spent the better part of his life serving.
Buhari recalled that Balogun, during his tenure as IGP, did his best to ensure that the police performed its statutory responsibilities under a democratic dispensation.
He also said that Balogun’s penchant for boosting the morale of officers and men in the force had been acknowledged by those who served under him.