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  • Payment of N2000 for screening for police recruitment fake, says PSC

    Payment of N2000 for screening for police recruitment fake, says PSC

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Tuesday, December 26, described the publication in the social media requesting prospective candidates for screening for recruitment into the Constable cadre of the Nigeria Police Force to come with the sum of N2000 has false.

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has refuted the social media publication that falsely claimed that prospective candidates for Constable cadre recruitment in the Nigeria Police Force need to bring N2000.

    The message which had the name of the Commission on top, reads: “Police Service Commission read: “Congratulations  and U have been shortlisted  for the physical screening 8 January 2024, come along with 2k when coming.”

    A statement issued by the PSC, Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani said: “The attention of the Police Service Commission has been drawn to a fictitious publication in the social media requesting prospective candidates for screening for recruitment into the Constable cadre of the Nigeria Police Force to come with the sum of N2000.

    “The Commission wishes to disown and disassociate  itself from the said  publication which obviously is fictitious and misleading.

    “The Commission had earlier in a Press Statement explained that the ongoing recruitment is entirely free from the registration stage to the last stage which is medical examination and wishes to state that nothing has changed to warrant requesting the candidates to come with N2000 for the screening exercise. 

    “The Commission warns that it will no longer tolerate the meddlesomness of fraudsters who seem bent in compromising the ongoing recruitment exercise. 

    Read Also: PSC fixes date for screening of 416,270 police constable

    “The Commission wishes to advise the prospective candidates to ignore these misleading messages as the Police Recruitment Board is currently sending messages to successful candidates with detailed information on requirements for the screening exercise. 

    “The Commission will not at any point impose any fee on the candidates and will ensure that the exercise is transparent, merit based and in obedience with the Federal Character  principles.

    PSC advised candidates to resist the temptation to cut corners in an attempt to succeed in this endeavour as strict regulations have been put in place to protect the recruitment exercise from the beginning to the end.

    Ani said: “The Board promises to ensure that the outcome of the exercise  meets international standards with the products good enough for the Police of our dreams”

  • PSC promotes 5,718 top police officers

    PSC promotes 5,718 top police officers

    • 12 CPs elevated to AIGs, 19 DCPs to CPs, 21 ACPs to DCPs

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of 5,718 senior police officers comprising general duty and specialists cadres of the force.

    The commission okayed the promotion of 12 commissioners of police (CPs) to Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs); 19 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) to Commissioners of Police (CPs) and 21 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) to Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs).

    Thirty-three Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs) were also elevated to Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs).

    The PSC also approved the promotion of 265 Superintendents of Police (SPs) to Chief Superintendents (CSP); 59 Deputy Superintendents (DSPs) to Superintendents (SPs) and 4,750 Assistant Superintendents (ASPs) and another 146 ASPs omitted during the May 2022 promotion to Deputy Superintendents (DSPs).

    A statement yesterday in Abuja by PSC’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, reads: “For the specialists cadre, the commission approved the promotion of two ACPs: one from Air Wing and the other Forensic to the next rank of DCPs; 47 CSPs comprising 23 medical doctors and 24 veterinary doctors were promoted to the rank of ACPs.

    Read Also: PSC won’t abandon injured mobile police officer, says Arase

    “A total of 190 SPs from the Computer Info-Tech Unit; another eight from Works; one from Workshop; 12 from Transport; two from Forensic; two from Handwriting; one from Ballistics; one from Religion and one from Veterinary Doctor were also promoted.

    “Forty-seven Specialists of Assistant Superintendents of Police rank and of different units were promoted to Deputy Superintendents.

    PSC Chairman Solomon Arase urged the newly promoted officers to embrace a new policing culture that is hinged on people-friendly approach that respects the fundamental rights of the citizens.

    He advised them to desist from involvement in civil matters or making false allegations against the public.

    “Such conducts will not make them win the hearts and minds of the people, which will deprive them of credible information from public-spirited individuals when dealing with internal security issues,” Arase said.

    The PSC chairman hailed the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun for collaborating with the commission to ensure that, for the first time in a very long while, the promotions permeated all the departments of the force.

    He said: “This singular act, I hope, will motivate the workforce to give back their best in ensuring that issues of crimes and criminality are properly dealt with.”

  • PSC inaugurates 11-man board for recruitment of police constables

    PSC inaugurates 11-man board for recruitment of police constables

    The chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Arase has inaugurated the first-ever board saddled with the conduct of recruitment exercise into the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) with a plea to the members to recruit only the best Nigerians for the Force.

    Speaking at the occasion, Arase said that the recruitment exercise would commence in no distant time, adding that it was coming on the heels of Presidential approval for the annual recruitment of 10, 000 personnel into the Force

    According to Arase who is a former Inspector General of Police, it was part of President Bola Tinubu’s promise during the electioneering campaigns, aimed at strengthening the Nigeria Police towards optimal functionality in resolving the insecurity challenge in Nigeria.

    He said that the task of recruiting qualified persons, of good conduct and character is no doubt an arduous one, but can be made easier through the cooperation and assistance of our community leaders, and traditional and religious institutions.

    He said: “Every Nigerian who is desirous of Police Reforms in our dear country is, therefore, implored to assist the Board during the recruitment exercise by ensuring that the bad eggs in the society are not foisted on the Board, and/or allowed to surreptitiously get recruited into the NPF without alerting the Board through whistle-blowing.”

    He listed some of the mandate board as determining and declaring the available vacancies in the NPF that needs to be filled up and drawing up guidelines for every recruitment process in the Nigeria Police Force.

    Others include: Determining the online platform to be employed in the advertorials and recruitment of applicants as well as placement of advertorials on national dailies and other forms of information dissemination on the recruitment among others.

    He, however, urged the members of the Board to shun corruption in its entirety and its appearances, saying they should “strive like Caesar’s wife to be above board in the conduct of the recruitment exercise.”

    Responding, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Training Department of the Force; DIG Bala Ciroma assured that the Board would carry out its assignment diligently to be devoid of conflicts of interest in the national interest

    Members of the board, who were inaugurated at the headquarters of the commission has the Commissioner representing South East Zone at the PSC, Onyemuche Nnamani as the Chairman while Olabode Akinbamilowo, a Deputy Commissioner of Police will serve as the Secretary.

    Read Also: PSC retires four deputy inspectors general

    Other members of the board include the DIG manning Development Training Department of the police; DIG Bala Ciroma, Alhaji Muhammed Magaji from the Ministry of Police Affairs; Mrs Ifeoma Anyanwutaku, the Permanent Secretary of the PSC; Prof. Joseph Olowofela from Federal Character Commission FCC and Representative of Police Colleges, CP Hassan Yabanet.

    Also included were Yusuf Sanusi of Recruitment Department of PSC; Sani Usman Hada of ICT unit of PSC; Barr. Victoria Onyekwuluije of Legal Department of PSC and DSP Ahanmisi Obehi of the Office of Chairman of PSC.

    It would be recalled that the Commission and the Nigeria Police Force were hitherto engaged in legal disputations over who has the powers and responsibilities to recruit for the Nigeria Police Force.

    The avoidable imbroglio and legal tussle between the two critical institutions of Government was however laid to rest and resolved in favour of the Commission in the judgment of the Supreme court.

  • PSC retires four deputy inspectors general

    PSC retires four deputy inspectors general

    • Commission appoints ex-AIGs as replacements

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has retired Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs) Moses Jitiboh, Mohammed Dan-Mallam, Adeyinka Adeleke, and Hafiz Inuwa.

    The compulsory retirement may not be unconnected with the fact that the four DIGs were senior to incumbent Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun.

    A statement yesterday in Abuja by the PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, reads: “The Police Service Commission, in exercise of its statutory powers pursuant to the Third Schedule, Part 1 M, paragraph A&B of the 1999 Constitution, reinforced with Section 6 of the commission’s (Establishment) Act 2001, paragraphs a, c, d, e, &f, has compulsorily retired four Deputy Inspectors General of Police. The affected DIGs are: Dan-Mallam Mohammed, Moses Ambakina Jitiboh, Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa and Adeleke Adeyinka Bode.

    “In the wake of the appointment of the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun on June 19, 2023 by Mr. President, the commission had expected, in consonance with the revered tradition of discipline and regimented culture of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), that those DIGs, who were seniors in rank prior to his (Egbetokun’s) elevation, would voluntarily apply for retirement or elect to leave the Force.

    “The commission, having waited for ample time with no such application from any of them, took the decision to compulsorily retire them in order to uphold discipline, which is the bedrock of the Force, and to discourage status reversal, which is inherently inimical to the exercise of authority by the Inspector General.

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    “Accordingly, the former DIGs have been mandated to immediately proceed on compulsory retirement with effect from Friday, August 25, 2023…

    “The commission also approved the appointment of four Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) to the rank of Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs), which would be subject to ratification by the Board of the Commission, to replace the retired DIGs.

    “The newly appointed DIGs, who are without Pending Disciplinary Matters and/or without any serious medical conditions and health impairments, were drawn from the same respective geo-political regions of the retired ones.

    “They are: DIGs Ibrahim Sani Ka’oje, Daniel Sokari–Pedro, Ayuba Ekpeji, and Usman Nagogo.”

    “While congratulating them for their elevation to the enviable rank of DIGs, the commission hopes that their appointment will add value and greater vigour to the efforts of the Nigeria Police in delivering on its mandate.”

  • BREAKING: PSC retires Adeleke, three other senior DIGs

    BREAKING: PSC retires Adeleke, three other senior DIGs

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) had announced the compulsory retirement of four Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) who were senior to the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun before his elevation by President Bola Tinubu.

    The affected officers by the compulsory retirement include DIGs Dan-Mallam Mohammed, Moses Ambakina Jitiboh, Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa and Adeleke Adeyinka Bode.

    A statement issued on Monday, August 28, by the spokesman for the commission, Ikechukwu Ani, said the senior officers were expected to put in their resignation from service following the appointment of their junior as IGP in line with the revered tradition of discipline and regimented culture of the police.

    Ani said the PSC exercised its statutory powers pursuant to the Third Schedule, Part 1 M, paragraphs A and B of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Section 6 of the PSC Establishment Act, 2001, in arriving at the decision.

    He said: “In the wake of the appointment of the acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun on the 19th of June, 2023 by Mr. President, the Commission had expected in consonance with the revered tradition of discipline and regimented culture of the Nigeria Police Force that those DIGs who were seniors in rank prior to his elevation will voluntarily apply for retirement or elect to leave the Force.

    “The commission, having waited for ample time with no such application from any of them, took the decision to compulsorily retire them in order to uphold discipline which is the bedrock of the Force, and to discourage status reversal which is inherently inimical to the exercise of authority by the Inspector General.

    “Accordingly the former DIGs have been mandated to immediately proceed on compulsory retirement with effect from Friday, 25th August, 2023.

    “The commission appreciates their immense contributions and efforts towards peace and security of our country and also wishes them well in their future endeavours in retirement.

    Read Also: Ibadan seeks inclusion of indigenes as PSC Commissioners

    “Similarly, the commission also approved the appointment of four Assistant Inspectors General of Police to the rank of Deputy Inspectors General of Police which would be subject to ratification by the Board of the commission to replace the retired DIGs.

    “The newly appointed DIGs who are without pending disciplinary matters and/or without any serious medical conditions and health impairments were drawn from the same respective geo-political regions of the retired ones.

    “They are DIGs Ibrahim Sani Ka’oje; Daniel Sokari-Pedro, Ayuba Ekpeji and Usman Nagogo.

    “While congratulating them for their elevation to the enviable rank of DIGs, the commission hopes that their appointment will add value and greater vigour to the efforts of the Nigeria Police in delivering on its mandate.”

  • Breaking: Police dismiss nine officers for misconducts

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved with immediate effect the dismissal of nine senior Police Officers for gross misconduct.

    The Commission said it also approved the reduction in rank of six officers for different cases of misconduct.

    According to a statement in Abuja on Tuesday by the Commission’s Spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, the decisions were part of the outcome of its 5th plenary meeting which held in Abuja on 26th and 27th of March, 2019 and presided over by its Chairman, Musiliu Smith.

    Ani said the Commission also approved the punishment of severe reprimand for ten officers while one officer, CP. Austin Agbonlahor was exonerated.

    The Commission said one of the dismissed officers, SP Adamu Damji Abare will also be prosecuted while SP Abdul Yahaya Ahmed and another SP who also had his promotion from SP to CSP withdrawn before his dismissal.

    Read Also: Police nab man with ‘human parts‘

    The Commission said it has requested the IGP to provide it with information on the punishment awarded to other officers mentioned in the Police Investigation Reports involving SP. Abare with regards to irregularities in the conduct of the 2011 recruitment exercise.

    Others officers dismissed are; DSP Osondu Christian, DSP Samson Ahmidu and DSP Pius Timiala who will be prosecuted and whose promotion from DSP to SP was withdrawn. Four Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASPs) were also dismissed for various wrongdoings. They are; Agatha Usman, Esther Yahaya, Idris Shehu and Usman Hassan Dass.

    Those whose ranks were reduced are; Oluwatoyin Adesope and Mansir Bako were reduced in rank from SP to DSP while Gbenle Mathew; Tijani Saifullahi; Sadiq Idris and Alice Abbah were reduced from the rank of DSP to ASP.

    Ani said the commission’s decisions have been conveyed to the Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu for implementation in a letter signed by the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Commission, Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri.

  • Police Job: PSC to commence screening soon

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has said it will soon commence the screening exercise of candidates who applied into the Nigeria Police Force as Constables.

    10,000 slot was advertised for the job but at the close of the recruitment portal in January this year, the Commission received 315,032 applications.

    The final analysis of the applications received by the Commission showed that 271,068 males applied, 43,785 female applications were received, 24 applicants did not indicate their gender while 155 applications were inconclusive.

    A statement in Abuja on Monday by the Commission’s Spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani stated that a date will be fixed soon for the screening.

    Ani said the explanation was necessary following the huge turnout of candidates to the various Police Commands across the country for the screening without invitation by the Commission.

    Read Also: Police recover gun, phones from two robbery suspects

    The statement reads: “The Police Service Commission wishes to state that it is yet to commence the screening exercise for candidates who applied for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force. The commission has also not invited any candidate for screening.

    “The Commission is surprised to note that some Nigerians besieged the State Commands of the Nigeria Police throughout the country for a screening exercise not scheduled by the Commission and for which no applicant was invited.

    “Applicants are hereby advised to ignore any statement on this as it did not originate from the commission. The commission will soon notify shortlisted candidates of a date for the commencement of the exercise.”

  • PSC to shortlist 315,032 for 10,000 Police jobs

    The Police Service Commission ( PSC ) said it received 315,032 applications for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force as Constables at the close of its recruitment portal on Friday, January 11, 2019.

    The Commission said it will commence the online shortlisting of qualified applicants based on its advertised requirements adding that successful ones will be invited for physical and document screening.

    Some of the requirements advertised reads: “The applicants are required to possess an 0’ level certificate or its equivalent with at least five credits including Mathematics and English language in not more than two sittings. Applicants must be a Nigerian Citizen, not less than 18 years of age or more than 25 years of age. They must also be of good character and must not have been convicted of any criminal offence.”

    The Final analysis of the applications received by the Commission showed that 271,068 males applied, 43,785 female applications were received, 24 applicants did not indicate their gender while 155 applications were inconclusive.

    Read Also: IGP appoints Mba new Force Spokesman

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday by the Commission’s Spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani.

    The statement reads: “Niger State still kept its first position on the number of applications received with 18,549 applicants followed by Kaduna with 17,936, Kano, 17,483 and Katsina, 17,354. Lagos State dropped to the last position with 1,895 applications while Bayelsa State, previously at the rear, is now second to the last with 2,035 applications. Anambra State is with 2,204, Ebonyi State, with 2,496 while Abia State recorded 2,976 applications.

    “At the close of the recruitment portal, 271,068 males applied while only 43,785 female applications were received. “

    The Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, expressed pleasure at the successful conclusion of the first stage of the recruitment exercise, adding that the Commission was committed to a transparent, hitch-free and merit-driven exercise that will ensure the recruitment of the best for the Nigeria Police Force.

  • CUPP sues Buhari, PSC over IGP’s tenure

    The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has sued President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, over the move to extend the tenure of the IGP.

    Also taken to an Abuja High Court are the Nigeria Police Council and Police Service Commission (PSC).

    In the suit filed on their behalf by Messrs. Obed O. Agu, the plaintiffs, is seeking an interpretation of Section 215 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Public Service Rule 020810.

    They want the court to determine whether by the mandatory provision of the sections, an IGP shall only be appointed from among serving members of the police and whether any person or an officer who has attained 60 years or 35 years in service cannot be deemed to be serving member of the force.

    Addressing a news conference in Owerri, the Imo State capital yesterday, over the purported moves to extend IGP’s tenure, CUPP’s First National spokesman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, Kenneth Udeze, said the IGP, who will be 60 years on January 15, 2019, having been born January 15, 1959,  is not eligible for extension  and any attempts to do so would contravene relevant sections of the constitution.

    The CUPP said that moves to extend IG’s appointment after retirement is a desperate effort by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to politicise the Police Force.

    The Coalition expressed fears that the fact that the IGP had not commenced necessary procedures prior to retirement had further confirmed their suspicion.

    It accused some APC chieftains of being behind the plot to extend IGP’s tenure, adding that the 2019 election is a straight contest between Buhari and Atiku Abubakar, who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)/Coalition candidate, which APC feared it could lose.

    Calling on the President to direct Idris to proceed on terminal leave, and commence his mandatory one month pre-retirement workshop/training, APP and CUPP gave the respondents 30 days to reply to the summons.

  • NGO sues PSC, IGP over planned demotion of 3,791 officers

    A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), the Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organisation (GAFAMORG), has sued the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, over planned demotion of 3,791 offficers.

    In the suit before a Federal High Court, Lagos, GAFAMORG is seeking a declarative perpetual orders to restrain the Police Service Commission  (PSC) from effecting the planned demotion of over 3,791 police officers promoted between 2016 and 2018.

    The GAFAMORG, established for keeping alive the memory and ideals of the late human rights crusader, Chief Ganiyu Oyesola Fahenmi (SAN), claimed it instituted the action  in the public interest and defence of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended).

    Joined as co-defendants in the suit No. FHC/CS/2011/2018, are the newly constituted PSC headed by Alhaji Musiliu Smith (IGP rtd), and the incumbent IGP.

    The suit, which is yet to be assigned to a judge, is supported by 62-point affidavit in support of the originating summons, by a human rights lawyer, Debo Adeleke, defending the down-trodden and staunch member of the GAFAMORG, the plaintiff.

    According to the deponent, the suit was prompted by a press conference by the PSC’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, on October 2, 2018, when it was confirmed to newsmen that PSC had set up a panel headed by a retired Justice of Supreme Court, Justice  Clara Binta Ogunbiyi, (a member of the PSC), to review promotions made by the Police between 2016-2018.

    It was also averred that the planned demotion of the concerned officers was earlier confirmed by Olayinka Balogun, a retired police commissioner and Personal Assistant to the PSC Chairman, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, on September 19, 2018.

    Besides, the deponent also averred that a letter titled: “Re: Planned Demotion of Police Officers Promoted between 2016 and 2018 by the newly constituted board of the Police Service Commission”, dated September 23, 2018 by the IGP addressed to the PSC Chairman, was sighted by the plaintiff to buttress the fact that the planned demotion was not a mere rumour.

    Upon this discovery, the plaintiff said it wrote the PSC Chairman, pleading for a change of the planned action and to serve as a pre-action notice, which was yet to be responded to.

    “That the silence and or refusal to respond to our letter by the 1st Defendant is an indication that it planned to go ahead with the proposed demotion of officers promoted by the former PSC Board between 2016-2018 on recommendation of the IGP, based on their gallant performance, despite our pleadings,” the deponent averred.

    The deponent further argued that more worrisome was the inclusion of 45 gallant officers attached to the IGP Intelligent Response Team (IRT) headed by a courageous officer named DCP Abba Kyari and other police officers promoted by the PSC.

    The deponent further averred: “That the 45 officers of IRT were given special promotion consequent upon their investigation, successful  tracking and finally arresting the notorious billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudume Onwuamadike, a.k.a. Evans and his 21-member kidnapping syndicate”.

    He further argued that the concerned officers were recommended and approved  for promotion in line with the Nigerian Police policy on promotion and Force Orders by the IGP.

    It was further noted that the promotion was based on special performance to encourage and motivate the officers for improved performances.

    “That it is a fact that not only incontrovertible, but highly indubitably contested that IRT led by DCP Abba Kyari and his gallant officers have been exceptionally professional, efficient, committed, dedicated and superlatively courageous in carrying out their duties.

    “That the IRT officers led by Abba Kyari have distinguished themselves as special corps that believe in the corporate existence of our dear motherland and in the course of fighting crime in our society, they constantly stand the risk of sacrificing their precious lives in the course of carrying out their lawful duties galantly.”

    Part of achievements of the concerned officers, which the authorities considered worth appreciating and rewarded, according to the plaintiff, include: capturing of the deadliest kidnapper in the history of Nigeria, Henry Chibueze, a.k.a. Vampire in Owerri;  arrest of 22 Boko Haram terrorist gang responsible for kidnapping of Chibok girls in 2014 and responsible for series of suicide bombings/several attacks and ambush against security agents in Borno,  Yobe and Adamawa states.

    Others include: Arrest of notorious criminal, who threatened to kill former Vice-president Atiku Abubakar and  his entire family and arrest of 25 bank robbers, who invaded Offa, Kwara State and robbed five commercial banks, the gang also murdered over 31 innocent Nigerians.

    Urging the court to consider granting his prayers and halt the planned demotion,  the deponent averred that the affected officers will be highly demoralised and it will adversely affect their performances and consequently the security of the country will be negatively affected if the planned demotion is allowed.