PSC Dismisses 10 Senior Police Officers, Disciplines 30 Others

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has taken disciplinary actions against 40 police officers found guilty of various misconducts.

No fewer than 10 senior police officers were dismissed while 9 others were demoted.

Spokesperson for the PSC, IKechukwu Ani, said the commission also approved punishment of various degrees for 18 policemen, while letters of warning were issued to three others.

Ani disclosed the development in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

According to him, the PSC took the decision at its 9th plenary meeting in September, where it treated 43 cases of misconduct reported to the commission.

Ani said the senior officers dismissed were: one Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), two Superintendents of Police (SP), three Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP) and four Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP).

He added that six of the officers – one ACP, one SP, two DSPs and two ASPs – would be made to face prosecution.

“The dismissed ACP, Magaji Doko was found to have engaged in acts unbecoming of a public officer, disobedience to lawful order, discreditable conduct, unlawful use of authority and scandalous conduct.

“One of the dismissed SPs, Ogedengbe Abraham was found guilty of negligence/loss of government property; disobedience to lawful order and act unbecoming of a public officer.

“The other dismissed SP, Mallam Taluwai was found guilty of discreditable conduct and act unbecoming of a public officer,’’ he said.

Ani gave the names of the three dismissed DSPs as Okunkonin Daniel, Abisoro Irene and Theresa Nuhu, while the ASPs are Sanusi Rasaki, Uwadala Oba, Ferdinand Idoko and Igolor Ogheneruona.

The PSC also approved the compulsory retirement of SP Talba Mohammed, “for acts unbecoming of a public officer and dishonesty,” while reducing rank of Muhammad Sani Muhammad from CSP to SP “for unruly behaviour, gross insubordination, gross misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a senior police officer.”

Also demoted were John Oluwarotimi whose rank was reduced from SP to DSP and Mustapha Abubakar, Godwin Agbo and Hassan Hamidu whose ranks were reduced from DSP to ASP.

The ranks of Edeke Michael, Iyanda Olufemi, Asabe Luka and Anode Christopher were also reduced from ASP to Inspector.

Meanwhile, the development came amidst nationwide protests against police brutality and alleged extortion and harassment by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).