Alleged Bribery for Police Promotion: Commission sets up 5-man investigation committee headed by Justice Adekeye; Puts Special Promotions on Hold.

Aftermath of complaints of favouritism and ethnic consideration by the Police headquarters in matter of promotions, the Police Service Commission has ordered the suspension of all considerations for special promotions from the Inspector General of Police.

Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Retired IGP Mike Okiro while announcing the suspension of the special promotions on Tuesday also announced the setting up of a 5-man investigation committee headed by Retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Olufumlola Adekeye to look into allegations of bribery for promotions made by a Senator and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Misau.

Listing out the qualifications required for special promotions, the PSC boss said, “It should however be noted that performance of normal or routine duty will not qualify an officer for special promotion”.

Towards ensuring objectivity, transparency and accountability in the process, Okiro said the commission has developed and issued new guidelines on special promotions to the Nigerian Police Force.

The guidelines are as follows, “the benefitting officer must have been confirmed on his or her present substantive rank; the officer must have spent at least 2 years on his or her present substantive rank”.

“The officer must not have benefitted from special promotion in the last three years; the reasons adduced by the officer’s eligibility for special promotion must be sufficiently substantiated and evidences of any excellent performance clearly stated and open for verification”.

“Also, all special promotions must be made subject to availability of vacancy”.

Okiro added that implementation of this policy will be monitored by the police service commission strategy committee and reviewed on a regular basis in order for it to stand the test of time.

Emphasizing on the suspension of special promotions, Okiro said, “Given the recent avalanche of disparaging reports, comments and allegations revolving around special promotions, albeit most of which are baseless, unfounded and malicious, the commission has taken a decision to put on hold, all recommendations of special promotions until further notice.

“Already processed promotions shall be reappraised and released at the appropriate time, or shall be referred back to the Inspector general of Police to furnish the commission with details of each recommended individual officer’s superlative performance to qualify for special promotion”, Okiro said

END