The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the dismissal of 19 senior police officers for various infractions. The officers dismissed include ten assistant superintendents, six deputy superintendents, two chief superintendents, and one superintendent.
In addition to these dismissals, the commission approved the demotion of 19 other senior officers. This group comprises one assistant commissioner of police, one chief superintendent, two superintendents, two deputy superintendents, and 13 assistant superintendents.
Two Assistant Inspectors General of Police were also disciplined. One was reprimanded for failing to carry out lawful instructions, while the other received a warning letter for negligence.
PSC spokesperson Ikechukwu Ani disclosed these actions in a statement released on Friday. Ani noted that several other officers faced varying degrees of disciplinary measures, including severe reprimands, reprimands, and warning letters. The commission’s decisions were reached during the final segment of its first plenary meeting in Abuja.
“Most of the officers dismissed are also set to be prosecuted by the Legal Unit of the Nigeria Police Force. Three pending disciplinary matters were deferred for further information from the Inspector General of Police,” Ani stated. He also revealed that the commission reviewed 23 appeals and petitions, alongside nine legal matters and court judgments.
The commission deliberated on a total of 110 disciplinary cases and 23 appeals and petition matters, as well as 13 court judgments requiring compliance.
PSC Chairman, retired DIG Hashimu Argungu, emphasized the commission’s commitment to expediting the resolution of police disciplinary cases. He stressed that officers who are exonerated would be free to continue their career progression, while those found culpable would face the consequences of their actions.
Argungu also warned that the commission would not tolerate police involvement in civil matters such as land disputes, marital conflicts, and rent-related issues. He urged the police to focus on addressing criminal activities and threats to public safety, leaving civil matters to the courts.
