Seven senior police officers have been dismissed by the Police Service Commission, PSC, on grounds of gross misconduct.
The Commission’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, while disclosing this in a press statement on Tuesday, added that the Commission also approved the demotion of ten other officers.
TheFact Daily gathers that the decisions were taken at the on-going 15th Plenary Meeting of the Commission which is expected to end on Thursday, October 6th, 2022.
Ani, in his statement, listed the dismissed officers to include: a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), a Superintendent of Police (SP) and five Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP). A Superintendent of Police (SP) was also retired in public interest.
The Commission’s Plenary Meeting which was presided over by Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, JSC (rtd), considered a total of 47 Pending Disciplinary Matters (PDM) before it and also treated some appeals from dismissed police officers.
The Commission reduced the ranks of one Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) to Superintendent of Police (SP), three Superintendents of Police (SP) to Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP), and two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP) to Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP).
The Commission further reduced the ranks of four Assistant Superintendents of Police to Inspectors.
Furthermore, ten senior Police Officers, including an Assistant Commissioner, a Chief Superintendent, a Superintendent, two Deputy Superintendents and five Assistant Superintendents were given the punishment of severe reprimand.
Thirteen officers received the punishment of reprimand; two are to receive letters of warning while four officers were exonerated.
Justice Ogunbiyi, who is the Acting Chairman of the PSC, said the Commission would henceforth give the desired attention to Pending Disciplinary Matters so that those found guilty are punished immediately while those found not guilty are cleared to continue with their career progression.
While calling on police officers to ensure they operate within established rules and avoid taking laws into their hands, Justice Ogunbiyi said the Commission will continue to work to sustain a professional Police Force that operates in line with the established rules and regulations and in conformity with international best practices.
