Kuti, a rising senior officer in the Nigeria Police Force, is at the centre of a storm over alleged preferential treatment and rapid promotions, which multiple sources have linked to her personal relationship with the police chief.
Bukola Kuti, Principal Staff Officer 3 (PSO 3) to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has been identified as the police officer whose residence was the scene of a jewellery theft worth over N700 million in 2024, SaharaReporters has learned.
Kuti, a rising senior officer in the Nigeria Police Force, is at the centre of a storm over alleged preferential treatment and rapid promotions, which multiple sources have linked to her personal relationship with the police chief.
Last week, SaharaReporters exposed how tensions had flared within the Force over her quick rise. Kuti, now promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), reportedly attained that rank within 10 years of joining the police — a trajectory insiders describe as highly unusual and far ahead of her peers, many of whom remain Superintendents of Police.
A senior police source said, “This kind of career progression is almost unheard of unless there’s special favour involved. Most of her mates are still at SP level.”
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Police Service Commission had approved the promotion of 37 senior officers, allegedly handpicked by IGP Egbetokun, including Kuti. However, the official release of the list has been stalled due to internal backlash over ethnic bias and cronyism.
Sources within the Force said part of what fueled the outrage was that Kuti had only recently been promoted to Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) before being elevated again to ACP.
Jewellery Theft at IGP’s Officer’s Residence
The theft of gold jewellery worth over N700 million occurred in late April 2024 and was initially linked to the IGP’s apartment, according to a petition sent to Amnesty International. However, police spokesperson ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi later clarified in a statement that the robbery took place at the home of a police officer attached to the Force Headquarters in the Lugbe area of Abuja.
SaharaReporters has now confirmed that the officer referenced was Bukola Kuti, identified by the petitioners as “CSP Bukky” and PSO 3 to the IGP.
The high-value gold was reportedly traced to Wuse Market in Abuja, where it was allegedly sold by the prime suspect, one Alhaji Auwal. In response, the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police arrested 26 individuals, including gold merchants and POS operators who transacted with the suspect.
Among those arrested were Alhaji Aminu Sarkin Zabarmawan Kebbi, two of his shop attendants, Alhaji Musa Aliyu, Alhaji Nuhu Usman, and a tailor identified as Yahaya from Rigasa, Kaduna.
Allegations of Human Rights Abuses by Police
The petition to Amnesty International accused the IRT of gross human rights violations during its investigation into the theft. It alleged that those arrested were subjected to torture, physical abuse, and extortion under the supervision of the IGP.
According to the petition, “The Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abuja, arrested several members of the Gold Dealers Association at Wuse Market and POS operators that transacted business with Alhaji Auwal, the prime suspect.”
It further alleged that the IRT operated directly under IGP Egbetokun’s orders and inflicted “untold and inhumane hardship ranging from beating, hanging, and forcefully collecting money from them under the guise of recovering the stolen gold.”
In one cited case, Alhaji Amin Sarkin was reportedly handcuffed, his shop looted of goods worth over N100 million, and detained along with his assistants, after his staff unknowingly purchased gold worth N3 million linked to the stolen items.
Another gold merchant, Nuhu Usman, was allegedly tortured and forced to pay N11 million for gold he had originally bought for N6 million, under direct orders from Kuti. The IRT also allegedly accessed his bank account and withdrew N13 million from Taj Bank.
The petition detailed how a tailor from Rigasa, Kaduna — who merely knew the prime suspect — was beaten into a coma while in detention at the IRT office in Abuja.
It concluded by questioning the ownership of the stolen gold:
“The question is, who owned the stolen Gold? IGP? Or his wife? Or PSO 3 (Bukky)?”
The IRT officers named in the petition as handling the investigation include individuals identified only as Mashood, Femi, Joe (alias Piyapiya), Habila, and Abdul.
Police Respond To Petition, Confirm Robbery and Ongoing Investigation
In response to the petition alleging torture and rights violations by operatives of the IRT, the Force issued a statement confirming a robbery incident but rejecting the narrative of abuse.
According to the statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Adejobi, the robbery occurred at the residence of a police officer attached to the Force Headquarters, not the IGP’s home as alleged.
“On 28th April 2024, an armed robbery incident occurred at the residence of a police officer, attached to the Force Headquarters, Abuja, in Lugbe area of the Federal Capital Territory,” the statement read.
“During the incident, the officer was nearly smothered, while a secured safe containing jewellery, money, academic certificates, documents, phones and other valuable properties belonging to various residents in the compound were carted away.”
The police further disclosed that CCTV footage captured the suspect at the crime scene, “which has been helpful in our forensic investigations in the case so far.”
They also confirmed that the trail of the stolen jewellery led investigators to Wuse Market.
“Subsequent investigations traced the stolen items to Wuse Market, where they were allegedly purchased by one Alhaji Auwal.
“Despite police warnings to the FCT Gold Dealers Association to avoid purchasing the stolen gold via their joint WhatsApp platform, Alhaji Auwal facilitated its purchase and instructed his associates on how to handle it.”
The police added that deeper intelligence efforts unearthed a criminal network behind the transactions.
“Further investigations by the Force Intelligence Department revealed that Alhaji Auwal, his sons, and other associates are part of a cartel involved in dealing in stolen jewellery.
“This group has been linked to previous similar cases under police investigations at various formations within the FCT.”
According to the statement, the 26 suspects arrested in connection with the case—as well as several others in custody—were being lawfully detained under a court order and “will be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigations, contrary to the news making rounds.”
