Police PRO, Jimoh Moshood, Abba Kyari Face Demotion, As IGP, PSC Clash

At least 1, 500 police officers, including the Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, are said to have been marked for demotion by the Police Service Commission (PSC).

Also among those to be demoted by the PSC is the Team Commander, Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Mr Abba Kyari.

Kyari had received rapid promotion for his role in the arrest of billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudubeme George Onuamadike popularly known Evans.

Meanwhile, a brawl is said to be brewing between the PSC Chairman, Musilu Smith, and the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, over the alleged demotion being initiated by the latter.

IGP Idris, in a letter to Smith with reference number: CE:2300/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.27/46 and dated September 23, 2018, has frowned at the move.

The Police IG, it was learnt, accused the PSC chairman of discriminating against those marked for the demotion. Mr Idris equally questioned Smith’s powers to reverse the promotions made under him.

But responding to Idris’ letter, Smith referred the Police IG to Section 6 of the Police Service Commission (Establishment) Act No 1 of 2001, where the powers of the Commission to promotion and discipline officers were clearly stated.

In the rejoinder with reference number PSC/CH/2.18/13/VOl.1 and dated October 5, 2018, Smith stated that it is indeed the responsibility of the PSC to oversee affairs of the Nigeria Police Force.

The PSC Chairman said it was a violation of Section 6 of the PSC Act for IGP Idris to approve alleged double promotion for the affected officers.

Section 6 of the PSC Act provides that, “The commission shall be responsible for the appointment and promotion of persons to offices (other than the office of the IG) in the NPF.”

According to Smith, “The police rules and regulations established the fact that all unconfirmed Inspectors and Assistant Superintendents of Police must be made to sit for and pass the mandatory confirmation examinations.

“Never in the history of the force have special promotions been this cheapened and trivialized. It will be difficult to explain a situation where senior officers without any pending disciplinary matters are skipped perpetually while junior officers will be receiving double promotions within very short intervals,” the PSC Chairman’s response read.