By Ishaya Ibrahim
Rank and file promotions in the Nigerian Police Force can allegedly be bought for as much as N250,000, TheNiche investigation has revealed.
This allegation was also corroborated by the National Coordinator of the Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN), Okechukwu Nwanguma, who also alleged that his office has received dozens of complaints from aggrieved police officers, particularly, Inspectors, about irregularities in police promotions.
Promotions for rank and file personnel in the police force is given by the Inspector General of Police, while officers promotion is done by the Police Service Commission (PSC).
TheNiche investigation followed series of complaints it received from serving police personnel who claimed that promotion to the next rank has been monetized.
“Corporals pay N150,000 to get promoted to Sergeants, while Sergeants part with N250,000 to get promoted to Inspectors,” a serving policeman told TheNiche on the condition of anonymity.
The police personnel claimed that the racket is being coordinated at the Force Headquarters by officers who work in the office of the IGP, Ibrahim Idris.
The police source, serving in Borno State, said one of his colleagues got two promotions within a year, a move that got the commissioner of police in the state, Damian Chukwu protesting. The promotion was later reversed.
Nwanguma also corroborated TheNiche finding by saying that he has received complaints from police personnel alleging that promotions in the force are not based on merit, nor in line with the guidelines for police promotions, alleging that favouritism and corruption are the order of the day.
He said even the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood’s promotion to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in March 2018 was suspect because there are allegations that it was based on phone call which was intercepted between a security officer attached to the President and the outgoing Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Mike Okiro where the security official solicited promotion favour from Okiro on behalf of Moshood.
Nwanguma said till date, no security agency has investigated the allegation.
“Less than three months later, the same Moshood Jimoh has again been promoted to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). The reason offered for this controversial promotion is that his fellow PROs in other uniformed services are wearing ranks equivalent of a DCP and therefore, he had to be brought up to level with those other ones,” Nwanguma said this was the justification that the force proffered.
“Are there no DCPs in the NPF who can be appointed to replace Moshood? Considering his many gaffes as PRO, why should he be retained as PRO?
“It is this type of irregularity, favouritism and corruption characterizing police promotions in the NPF that is lowering morale, killing dedication, breeding disenchantment and indiscipline, and ultimately promoting insecurity in the country.
“Many of Moshood Jimoh’s mates and superiors who have been left behind by this unmerited promotion will never be happy, and rightly so and will not be encouraged to put in their best.
“Already, I’m receiving complaints from grudging and disgruntled officers and what they say will outrage anyone concerned about fairness and how corruption and injustice can breed insecurity in a country.
“The President should order an immediate investigation into irregularities in police promotion in Nigeria as part of government’s strategies to address police ineffectiveness and insecurity in the country,” Nwanguma said.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Moshood did not reply a text message seeking his response on the allegation that police promotions are being sold and that he too benefited from a promotion that did not follow due process.
