A youth group has rejected as false and misleading a report alleging that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, hired information technology experts to erase online links connecting him to a $2.5 million fraud scandal involving a Nigerian socialite.

In a statement issued on Friday and signed by the spokesperson of Integrity Youth Alliance (IYA), Danjuma Lamido, the group described the publication as fabricated, accusing SaharaReporters of relying on conjecture and unnamed sources to malign the IGP.

The alliance said routine visits and photo opportunities at the office of the Inspector-General of Police should not be twisted into claims of personal relationships or criminal complicity.

It also dismissed suggestions of turmoil within the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, insisting there was no internal crisis as alleged in the report.

On claims of an “emergency digital clean-up,” the IYA said the allegation was unfounded, stressing that the Police Force operates a professional and established social media unit and did not engage external consultants for such purposes.

Addressing reports about the IGP’s movements, the group said Egbetokun completed his official engagements in Lagos as scheduled and returned to Abuja in line with his itinerary, contrary to claims that his trip was abruptly cut short.

The alliance further denied reports of an emergency meeting involving police IT officials, noting that any ICT-related matters are handled through established command structures.

It also rejected allegations of unlawful surveillance of police officers’ private communications, stating that any monitoring carried out by the Force is done strictly within the confines of the law and for legitimate criminal investigations.

The IYA maintained that the IGP has no personal or professional relationship with the individual named in the report and challenged the publishers to provide verifiable evidence of any alleged financial transactions.

In response to claims of imminent postings, forced retirements, and internal disarray, the group said there was no plan to retire any senior officer, noting that such authority rests solely with the Police Service Commission.

The alliance urged the public to disregard what it described as a baseless report and called on media organisations to uphold responsible journalism anchored on facts and verifiable evidence.