The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the dismissal of 19 senior Police officers and reduced the ranks of 19 others over acts of misconduct.
PSC Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, who made this known in a press statement, Friday in Abuja, listed the dismissed officers as 10 Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) ; six Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), two Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs) and one Superintendent of Police (SP).
He said the 19 senior officers whose ranks were reduced include, one Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), one CSP, two SPs, two DSPs and 13 ASPs.
Ani said two Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) also received some punishments, noting that while one was reprimanded for refusal to carry out lawful instructions, the other was issued a letter of warning for negligence.
the spokesperson further disclosed that several other officers found culpable received different punishments including, severe reprimand, reprimand and letter of warning.
According to Ani, most of the officers dismissed are also to be prosecuted by the Legal Unit of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF); just as three pending disciplinary matters were stepped down with a request for further information from the Inspector General of Police.
Ani stated that the PSC plenary meeting in Abuja, chaired by DIG Hashimu Argungu, arrived at far reaching decisions on 110 pending disciplinary matters, and 23 appeals and petition cases with 13 court judgements seeking for compliance.
“The Commission had earlier considered and approved recommendations on several promotion matters which had since been conveyed to the Inspector General of Police for implementation,” he added.
the spokesperson said DIG Argungu assured the Commission will henceforth consider Police disciplinary matters with dispatch so as to free officers who are not found wanting to continue with their career progression and those found culpable to serve their punishments.
He warned that the commission would not spare officers who indulge in civil matters like land disputes, marital issues and rent related disputes, stressing that the courts should be allowed to do their duties while the Police pay more attention to criminal matters and threats to life.