The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the dismissal of 18 senior police officers and the demotion of 19 others as part of its recent disciplinary actions.
In a statement released on Friday by PSC spokesperson Ikechukwu Ani, the Commission disclosed that those dismissed included ten Assistant Superintendents, four Deputy Superintendents, two Chief Superintendents, and one Superintendent of Police.
Among the demoted officers were one Assistant Commissioner of Police, one Chief Superintendent, two Superintendents, two Deputy Superintendents, and thirteen Assistant Superintendents.
The decisions were made during the final session of the PSC’s first Plenary Meeting in Abuja, chaired by Commission Chairman DIG Hashimu Argungu (Rtd).
According to the statement, “Most of the officers dismissed are also to be prosecuted by the Legal Unit of the Nigeria Police Force. The Commission considered 110 Pending Disciplinary Matters (PDM), 23 appeals and petitions, and 13 court judgements seeking compliance.”
The PSC also issued varying levels of reprimand, warnings, and severe reprimands to other officers found guilty in different cases.
Three pending disciplinary matters were stepped down, with the Inspector General of Police requested to provide further information.
DIG Argungu said the Commission will subsequently consider Police Disciplinary matters with dispatch to free Police Officers who do not want to continue their career progression and those found guilty to serve their punishments.
He warned that the Commission would not spare Police Officers who indulge in civil matters like land disputes, marital issues and rent-related disputes.
Argungu said the courts should be allowed to do their duties while the Police should pay more attention to criminal matters and threats to life.