Nigerian policeNigeria, through the Police Service Commission (PSC) has dismissed 19 senior officers and demoted others in ranks for reasons bordering on misconduct.
Those so dismissed are 10 Assistant Superintendents, six Deputy Superintendents, two Chief Superintendents and one Superintendent.
The Head of Press and Public Relations of PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, in a statement today, December 6, in Abuja, said: “after rigorous consideration of the pending disciplinary matters before the commission, it also approved the reduction in ranks of 19 other senior police officers, consisting of one Assistant Commissioner of Police, one Chief Superintendent, two Superintendents, two Deputy Superintendents and 13 Assistant Superintendents.”
Ikechukwu Ani said that the PSC punished two Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, with one being reprimanded for refusal to carry out lawful instructions while the other received letter of warning for negligence.
The PSC spokesman said that several other officers found culpable received different punishments, including, severe reprimand, and letters of warning.
According to him, most of the officers dismissed will also be prosecuted by the legal unit of the Nigeria Police Force.
He said that three pending disciplinary matters were stepped down with a request for further information from the Inspector General of Police after considering 23 appeals and petitions and nine legal matters/court judgments.
Ikechukwu Ani said that the commission would henceforth be considering police disciplinary matters with dispatch.
He said that the idea is to free police officers who are not found wanting to continue with their career progression and those found culpable to serve their punishments.
The PSC spokesman said that the PSC boss had warned that the commission would not spare police officers who indulge in civil matters like land disputes, marital issues and rent related disputes.