PSC major clean up: Two AIGs, 36 officers hammered

Two Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), were among the 38 senior police officers that received the hammer for various offences from the Police Service Commission (PSC), the body for the reward and punishment of the officer’s rank of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), in one of the biggest onslaughts to clean up the institution.

The decision announced on Friday, is said to be part of the outcome conclusions reached by the statutory body at the last segment of its first Plenary Meeting in Abuja, where it dealt with a total of 110 Pending Disciplinary Matters (PDM), and 23 appeals and petition cases with 13 court judgements seeking for compliance.

The development, was conveyed in a statement by Ikechukwu Ani, spokesman of the commission, who said that the Commission had earlier considered and approved recommendations on several promotion matters, which had since been conveyed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), for implementation.

The meeting with Hashimu Argungu, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), as Chairman, also had Onyemuche Nnamani also present, Secretary and Taiwo Lakanu, another retired DIG, in attendance, was said to have approved the dismissal of 19 senior officers, comprised, 10 Assistant Superintendents (ASPs), six Deputy Superintendents (SPs) two Chief Superintendents (CSPs) and one Superintendent (SP).

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“The Commission also approved the reduction in ranks of Nineteen other senior Police Officers, one Assistant Commissioner of Police, one Chief Superintendent, two Superintendents, two Deputy Superintendents and thirteen Assistant Superintendents. Two Assistant Inspectors General of Police also received some punishments, one, punishment of reprimand for refusal to carry out lawful instructions and the other, letter of warning for negligence,” the statement, said.

Aside several other officers found culpable received different punishments including, severe reprimand, reprimand and letter of warning, most of the dismissed officers, would also be prosecuted by the Legal Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, while three pending disciplinary matters were stepped down with a request for further information from the IGP’s office, it further said.

Informing that the Commission also considered 23 appeals and petitions and nine legal matters and court judgements, the statement quoted Argungu as saying that the Commission would henceforth consider disciplinary matters with dispatch so as to free officers not found wanting to continue with their career progression while those found culpable to serve their punishments.

Warning that the Commission would not spare officers who indulged in civil matters like land disputes, marital issues and rent related disputes, the Commission’s boss added the courts should be allowed to do their duties while the police should pay more attention to criminal matters and threats to life.