Promotion: PSC dismisses bribery allegation as cheap blackmail

IGP, Arase, retired IGPs meet for better policing

A Commissioner in the Police Service Commission (PSC), Austine Adogame, has described the allegation of bribe-for-promotion against the commission as cheap blackmail.

Some senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) had reportedly called on President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the promotion exercise going on in the force, alleging that officers pay $10,000 to get elevated.

But Adogame told The Guardian it is cheap blackmail. His words: “Special promotion is legal and has been deployed in the force since its creation. There has always been a tendency for those not considered to insinuate corruption in the process. No system is perfect. Losers have the right to complai, but insinuating corruption is not acceptable.

“If there is evidence of any official, who collected money to recommend someone, such officer should be exposed. I don’t believe that has happened. There are channels for reporting such practices discreetly for the culprit to be apprehended, not blackmailing everyone in the social media.”

According to him, the commission has always treated cases of injustice dispassionately, advising the public to be wary of general labelling.Some aggrieved officers had alleged that PSC gave special promotion to junior officers above their seniors after collecting $10,000 bribe.

In a statement, on Tuesday, in Akure, Ondo State, by Mr. Chijioke Okonkwo, the aggrieved officers urged the Presidency to probe corrupt practices in the force.

MEANWHILE, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, has met with the PSC Chairman, Dr. Solomon Arase, and other retired IGPs at the PSC Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja, to discuss better policing for the country.

The meeting, which was at the instance of Arase, discussed issues affecting the commission and NPF, drawing experiences from the retired officers, who had at various times piloted the affairs of the force and the commission.

The retired IGPs at the meeting included Sunday Ehindero, Mike Okiro, Ogbonna Onovo and Suleiman Abba. Arase appreciated Baba and the retired IGPs for honouring his invitation, assuring that the commission under him would not relent in making sure that the welfare of police officers and men were catered for.

Baba, while assuring of the force’s commitment to positive collaborations with the commission for effective implementation of the Police Reform agenda, appreciated the PSC boss for the thoughtfulness in assembling the eggheads for the meeting.