Joseph Egbunike, a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police in-charge of Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), is dead.
Egbunike who hails from Onitsha, Anambra State, reportedly slumped and died in his office in Abuja in the late hours of Tuesday.
He was said to have undergone a major surgery over an undisclosed ailment few weeks ago.
A source said Egbunike was obese, a condition he managed for years with a combination of measures,.
He was a graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and was well educated with a B.sc (Hons) Accounting, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB Hons.), B.L. and, a Masters in International Law and Diplomacy (MILD) and PhD in Criminology.
He gained over 33 years experience in the Nigeria Police Force.
Until his death, Egbunike was in charge of the highest investigating arm of the Nigeria Police.
Its functions include investigation and prosecution of serious and complex criminal cases within and outside the country. The department also coordinates crime investigations/prosecution throughout the force.
Egbunike had, in late 2021, headed the Special Investigation Panel (SIP), constituted by Usman Baba, the Inspector General of Police, to investigate Abba Kyari, the suspended head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) over fraud allegations with fraudster, Ramon Abbas, commonly known as Hushpuppi.
The panel was set up sequel to an indictment of Kyari in a case involving Hushpuppi, who was involved in a $1.1 million scam against a Qatari businessman in the US District Court of California.
Reports later emerged that the Police Service Commission and the IGP disagreed on the punishment to be meted out to Kyari, over his indictment. While still on this, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), declared the suspended former “super cop” and six others wanted over alleged drug offences.
Kyari and the six are currently facing an eight-count criminal charge of drug trafficking.
Egbunike had a stint at the Group Accounts Division at the NNPC Headquarters, Falomo as Account Bills Officer, during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
He was a member of the following professional bodies: International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP); Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN); Nigerian Bar Association (NBA); Member, Institute of Cost Management (ICM); Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM); and Member, Chartered Institute of Fraud Examiners.
Apart from Nigeria Police Mortgage Bank Plc where he represented the NPF Accounts Budget, he also sat on the Board of Nigeria Police Force Property Development & Construction Company Ltd.
He attended the Advanced Detective Course, CSP – ACP and ACP – DCP Promotion courses, Police Staff College Jos, Plateau State amongst other local and international professional courses.
He also served as a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Department of Finance And Administration); Commissioner of Police, Account and Budget; Secretary, Force Headquarters Purchasing and Tenders Board: a Member of Federal Government Los: Committee; the Accountant of Nigeria Police Cooperative Multi-Purpose Society Limited.
He was at various times 2i/c State Intelligence officer, Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) Central Police Station, Onitsha; Patrol and Guard Officer, Ogidi, all in Anambra State Police Command, Divisional Traffic Officer, -Nike: General Investigation, State CID, Enugu State.
Egbunike was Account Bills Officer, Group Accounts Division (GAD), NNPC Headquarters, Falomo, Lagos during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
An astute financial manager and an apostle of good corporate governance, he was happily married and blessed with children.”