Disquiet in the police over ‘irregular’ promotion

• Arase

Some policemen have expressed displeasure over the promotion of 14 officers to Deputy Commissioners of Police (ACP).

The Police Service Commission (PSC) at the weekend announced the promotion of the officers from Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACP) to DCP.

Those promoted were Nkechi Enehikuere; Juliana Abah; Abdulkadir Jimoh; Garba Baba; Joseph Egbunike; Jonathan Towuru; Adeleke Bode and Muri Musa.

Others include Magu Mustafa; Lawal Tanko; Celestine Eluemelu; Edward Ajogun; Sylvester Alabi and David Igbodo.

The development has caused feelings of injustice as senior officers who were left out have accused the police of not following due process.

According to the aggrieved officers, the standard practice of seniority was not followed.

They alleged that with exceptions to Enehikuere, Abah, Jimoh, Baba and Egbunike, the PSC left out several senior officers who have attended and passed their Senior Staff course.

The aggrieved officers alleged that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase recommended his protégés for promotion without recourse to seniority.

One of the officers who pleaded anonymity said: “On the ACP seniority list, the first four names are Enehikuere (first), Abah (second), Jimoh (third), Baba (fourth) and Egbunike (24th).
“Towuru 52, Bode 75, Musa 91, Magu 99, Tanko 121, Eluemelu 134, Ajogun 214, Alabi 217 and Igbodo 220. Where is justice?  How can this be?

“Only five of the 30 most senior ACPs that have gone on course were promoted.  This is wicked. Most of them bribed their way at the PSC. Some of the officials at the commission vehemently opposed, but were overruled by the powers that be.

“Because the IGP is going out, he has jumped gun in promoting and compensated his loyalists. This is very bad,” said one of the officers.