Police does not sell promotion, denies bribery report – PSC

The Police Service Commission, PSC, has brushed aside reports about bribery scandal in the commission.

The PSC was reacting to the publication by SaharaReporters on the subject matter.

In a statement issued by its Head of Press and Public Relations Unit, Ikechukwu Ani, the Commission said: “The attention of the Police Service Commission has been drawn to a publication by Sahara Reporters of Tuesday, April 11th 2023 on the above story entitled ‘Exclusive: Bribery Scandal Rocks Nigeria Police Service Commission As Officers Allegedly pay $10,000 to get Promotion’.”

“According to the story, a nebulous group parading as aggrieved Officers of the Nigeria Police Force alleged that the Commission gave special promotions to junior Officers above senior ones after allegedly collecting bribe of a sum of $10,000.

“The said aggrieved Officers in a statement by one Mr. Chijioke Okonkwo (no rank indicated) on behalf of other Officers “urged the presidency to probe the corrupt practices in the Police Force.”

The Commission wished to state that it did not sell promotions in the Nigeria Police Force and would not start now when a deliberate effort was being made to reposition and reinvigorate the Nigeria Police Force, especially with the assumption of duty of Dr. Solomon Arase as Chairman of the Commission.

As of the time of this statement, the Commission had not formally received any formal petition or complaint on this allegation, he said.

The said Mr Chijioke Okonkwo, who posed and signed off on behalf of other officers, forgot that he was a serving Police Officer and did not indicate his rank.

He forgot the line of communication for Officers of the Nigeria Police Force, which also guides the Public Service.

The Commission wished to state as follows:

That any one with evidence on these allegations should, as a matter of urgency, forward the same to the Commission as anyone found culpable will be dealt with in line with the laws of the land.

“That the Commission has also set up a panel of investigation, comprising of both Members of the Commission and that of the Nigeria Police Force to investigate these allegations. Aggrieved Officers should avail themselves of the existence of this investigative Panel and come forward with substantiated proof that could aid the investigation.

The Commission insisted that those found wanting in the course of investigation would face the full wrath of the law.

However, the Commission warned that it would not tolerate any frivolous and fictitious media claims as officers and men of the police should be abreast and conversant with approved lines of communication.

The Commission directed the Police to fish out the true identity of the said Mr Chijioke Okonkwo for interrogation.

“At a time the Commission Chairman is working hard to harmonize and improve the services of both the Commission and the Police, the Commission can ill afford this kind of distraction.

“Barely one week in Office, the Commission Chairman has met with the Inspector General of Police and his Management team; the national leadership of the Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, and on Wednesday, April 12th, met with retired Inspectors General of Police. His desire to bring sanity, peace and unity in the Police sub-sector is already receiving desired result,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dr Arase while assuring members of the public of his administration’s readiness to sanitize the system, urged Staff members of the Commission to live above board at all times in the discharge of their responsibilities as bribery and corruption of any kind will not be tolerated under his watch.

Ikechukwu Ani
Head, Press and Public Relations
Thursday, April 13th 2023