Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Police Service Commission (PSC) yesterday said it has set up a panel of investigation, comprising both members of the commission and that of the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the alleged promotion bribery scandal rocking the commission.
The Commission noted that it does not sell promotions in the Nigeria Police Force and will not start now when a deliberate effort is being made to reposition and reinvigorate the Nigeria Police Force, especially with the assumption of duty of Dr Solomon Arase as Chairman of the Commission.
The Head of Press and Public Relations, Mr Ikechukwu Ani, in a statement, said the Commission has not formally received any formal petition or complaint on this allegation.
He said: “The attention of the Police Service Commission has been drawn to a publication by Sahara Reporters of Tuesday, April 11th, 2023 on the above story titled Exclusive: Bribery Scandal Rocks Nigeria Police Service Commission as Officers Allegedly Pay $10,000 to get promotion.
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“According to the story, a nebulous group parading as aggrieved Officers of the Nigeria Police Force alleged that the Commission gave special promotions to junior Officers above senior ones after allegedly collecting a bribe of a sum of $10,000.
“The said aggrieved officers in a statement by one Mr. Chijioke Okonkwo (no rank indicated) on behalf of other Officers, urged the Presidency to probe the corrupt practices in the Police Force.”
The said Chijioke Okonkwo, who posed and signed off on behalf of other officers, forgot that he was a serving police officer and did not indicate his rank.
He forgot the line of communication for officers of the Nigeria Police Force which also guides the Public Service.
The Commission, however, noted that anyone with evidence on these allegations should, as a matter of urgency, forward same to the Commission as anyone found culpable will be dealt with in line with the laws of the land.
“Aggrieved Officers should avail themselves of the existence of this investigative Panel and come forward with substantiated proof that could aid the investigation,” the statement said.
The Commission insists that those found wanting in the course of the investigation will face the full wrath of the law.
The Commission also, warned that it will not tolerate any frivolous and fictitious media claims, as Officers and Men of the Police should be abreast and conversant with approved lines of communication.
Directing the Police to fish out the true identity of the said Chijioke Okonkwo for interrogation, the Commission said the Chairman is working hard to harmonize and improve the services of both the Commission and the Police, but the Commission can ill afford this kind of distraction.
This is happening barely one week after the Chairman met with the Inspectors General of Police and his Management team; the national leadership of the Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, and on Wednesday, April 12th, met with retired Inspectors General of Police.
Ani said the Chairman’s desire to bring sanity, peace, and unity to the NPF is already yielding the desired results.
Arase while assuring members of the public of his administration’s readiness to sanitize the system, urged Staff of the Commission to live above board at all times in the discharge of their responsibilities as bribery and corruption of any kind will not be tolerated under his watch.
