Senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force have pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari, to urgently set up a panel of investigation to look into the alleged bribery offer made to the Police Service Commission, PSC, by junior police officers to gain promotion.
According to the aggrieved officers, junior officers allegedly offered $10,000 bribe to get promoted in the recent promotion excercise.
Mr Chijioke Okonkwo, on behalf of the aggrieved officers, in a statement in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Tuesday, appealed on the presidency to establish a probe panel to look into the corrupt practices in the Police Force.
The statement, lamented that lots of corrupt practices and injustices are going on in the force which needed the attention of the Presidency.
The statement reads: “There is serious corruption in the Nigeria Police in the ongoing promotion of senior police officers.
“Junior ones are being given special promotions ahead of their seniors. “The Police Service Commission gave special promotion to the junior officers above senior ones after collecting a bribe of $10,000.
“Of recent, two aides of a senior officer, who were earlier promoted to Chief Superintendent of Police in year 2018, recently benefited from the special promotion to the rank of Assistant Commissioner and have their date of promotion backdated to 13/07/2021.
“Meanwhile, officers who are running the normal promotions, promoted to CSP in the year 2015 and recently elevated to the status of ACP with their date as 27/03/23, making them subordinates to their former junio
“The mother of all the corruption is a list of some officers, most of whom are serving in Lagos State Command.
“They have paid as much as $10,000 to some notable people in Police Service Commission, for them to be given special promotions to their next rank and have their dates of promotion backdated under the disguise of community recommendations.
“This has taken the Inspector General of Police aback and generating rancor within the force headquarters.
“Such corrupt practices can only bring indiscipline, incompetence and lack of commitment in the force.
“The President and Commander in Chief of Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, and other concerned authorities should as a matter urgency carry out re-organization in Police Service Commission and appoint corruption-free and God fearing individuals as commissioners into commission.”
