Mustapha Balogun, Nigeria’s former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) is dead.
A source close to the family confirmed the death of Balogun, who became IGP in March 2002.
Born on August 8, 1947 at Ila-Orangun in Osun State, Tafa Balogun, was the 21st Inspector-General of Police.
Tafa as he was popularly known, was a fellow of the premier highest military institution in Nigeria, the National War College, later became the Assistant Inspector General of Police A.I.G Zone One, Kano, from where he was named the 21st IGP of Police on March 6, 2002.
Tafa was arraigned on April 4, 2005, at the Federal High Court, Abuja for stealing and laundering of over $100 million in his three years stint as Inspector General of Police from the Police treasury.
Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under Nuhu Ribadu brought 70 charges against him, covering the period from 2002 to 2004 when he was the Inspector General of Police.
He made a plea bargain with the court in exchange for returning much of the property and money. He was sentenced to six months in jail by Justice Binta Nyako.
The former police boss, who pleaded guilty to eight of the 56 count-charges directly affecting him, was convicted and sentenced to six months in each of the charges, all running concurrently.
He was released on February 9, 2006 after serving his sentence, part of it at Abuja’s National Hospital.