By Adadainfo
Mustapha Balogun, former inspector general of police, is dead.
Balogun became the nation’s police boos in March 2022. He died Thursday night, a family source said.
He was born on August 8, 1947 at Ila-Orangun in Osun State. He was Nigeria’s 21st IGP.
Records show that he was a member of cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Course 3.
Prominent positions he held include the principal staff officer (PSO) to former IGP Muhammadu Gambo; deputy commissioner of police, Edo State; and first commissioner of police, Delta State. He was also CP in Rivers and Abia states.
He would be remembered following his corruption trial in 2005. Recall that on April 4, 2005, Balogun appeared before the Federal High Court, Abuja, for allegedly stealing about $100 million in his three years as IGP.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under Nuhu Ribadu preferred 70 charges against him.
Balogun made a plea bargain to return all he admitted to have looted to the federal purse. He was tried by Justice Binta Nyako. Nyako considered he was a first offender and showed remorse, hence directed Balogun to pay N500, 000 on each of eight count charges totaling N4 million.
He had pleaded guilty to eight of the 56 count-charges preferred against him, and was sentenced to six months in each of the charges, which ran concurrently.
He was released on February 9, 2006 after serving his sentence. He ironically spent much of the time at the National Hospital, Abuja, due to ill-health.
