The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the dismissal of 19 senior police officers comprising 10 assistant superintendents, 6 deputy superintendents, 2 chief superintendents and 1 superintendent.
The commission also approved demotion of 19 other senior police officers, including one assistant commissioner of police, one chief superintendent, two superintendents, two deputy superintendents and 13 assistant superintendents of police.
PSC spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani further said 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.
Ani also said several other officers found culpable received different punishments including severe reprimand, reprimand and letter of warning.
“Most of the officers dismissed are also to be prosecuted by the legal unit of the Nigeria Police Force. Three pending disciplinary matters were stepped down with a request for further information from the Inspector General of Police,” Ani stated.
The commission also considered 23 appeals and petitions and nine legal matters and court judgements.
Reacting to this, Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu (retd) said the commission will henceforth consider police disciplinary matters with dispatch so as to free police 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 will not spare police officers, who indulge in civil matters like land, marital and rent related disputes.
DIG Argungu stressed that the courts should be allowed to do their duties while the Police should pay more attention to criminal matters and threats to life.