Police Service Commission (PSC) has dismissed nineteen (19) officers over “gross misconduct” against the extant rules and regulations of the establishment.
Gatekeepers News reports that the commission announced their dismissal during its plenary presided over by its chairman, Hashimu Argungu, a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police in Abuja on Friday.
PSC also reduced the rank of nineteen (19) other officers who were found culpable of various offences.
The 19 senior police officers that were sacked comprised 10 Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs), 6 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), 2 Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs) and 1 Superintendent of Police (SP).
This followed recommendations of commissioners in the commission after investigating different petitions against the said police officers.
Spokesman of the commission, Ikechukwu Ani while addressing the press, disclosed that 2 AIGs were punished for refusing to carry out lawful instructions.
Ani said one of the AIGs, who refused to carry out lawful order was reprimanded while the other senior officer was handed a letter of warning for negligence of duty.
He listed 19 other senior officers who have their ranks reduced as 1 Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) 1 Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), 2 Superintendents of Police (SPs), 2 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) and 13 Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs).
The spokesman said that several other officers found culpable also got different punishments ranging from severe reprimand, reprimand, and letter of warning, adding those dismissed would be prosecuted by the police.
Ani noted that no fewer than 3 pending disciplinary matters were stepped down with a request for further information from Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.
He added, “The commission also considered 23 appeals and petitions and nine legal matters/court judgements.”
“The Chairman of the Commission, Argungu, 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 disputes, marital issues and rent related disputes.”
“DIG 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.”
