Deputy Inspector-General of Police DIG Joseph Egbunike actually died on Wednesday, March 8, 2022, at night while undergoing surgery at the National Hospital Abuja; this lay to rest early information that he slumped and died in his office.
Senior Police sources informed The Trumpet that the late DIG’s health deteriorated about two weeks ago after returning from the Police conference held in Akwa-Ibom State following which he had to book an appointment with his doctor for a surgical operation on his increasing weight that had turned obese. “He didn’t slump and died in his office as reported widely online, he couldn’t survive an obese surgical operation”; it’s sad, said the Police source.
But a release by the Ag FPRO, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi which conveyed the IGP’s condolence message to the late DIG’s family and the Police Force was silent on the cause of death of the senior Police officer and simply said he died in service.
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CSP Adejobi said, “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, on behalf of his Management team, and Officers of the Nigeria Police Force, regrets to announce the demise of DIG Joseph Obiajulu Egbunike, which occurred at about 9 pm of March 8, 2022, at the National Hospital, Abuja, after a brief illness.
DIG Egbunike was until his death the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department and the supervisory DIG in charge of the South-East.
DIG Egbunike was a dedicated and seasoned police officer who served the nation in various capacities including as the Commissioner of Police in charge of Police Accounts and Budget. An officer with finesse and commitment to intellectual development, he was instrumental to the achievements of the giant strides within the Police architecture.
The Inspector-General of Police hereby condoles with the immediate family, relatives, and friends of the deceased DIG who passed away in active service of his fatherland and prays for the repose of his soul.”
The late DIG who hailed from Onitsha, Anambra state was the head of the Inspector-General of Police investigator panel probing the embattled DCP Abba Kyari following the US indictment in the $1m bribery scandal involving a UAE based Nigerian fraudster, Abbas Ramon alias Hushpuppi.
Until his death, DIG Egbunike was in charge of the Force Intelligence Bureau FIB. Before he was appointed DIG in 2020, Egbunike was the head of the Police Finance Department.
The senior police officer holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Accounting degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka as well as a Bachelor of Laws (LLB Hons.), B.L., a Masters in International Law and Diplomacy (MILD), and a PhD in Criminology.
