The Police Service Commission (PSC) has firmly rejected claims suggesting that police promotions were purchased, labeling these allegations as unfounded and an intentional effort to damage the reputations of both the Commission and the Nigeria Police Force.
In a communiqué released from Abuja, Torty Njoku Kalu, who oversees Protocol and Public Affairs for the Commission, expressed concern regarding a report by an online media outlet suggesting that senior police officers paid N5 million each to achieve a promotion to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).
Kalu stated that the Commission categorically dismisses these allegations, reaffirming that promotions in the Nigeria Police Force are based on merit and adhere to established protocols.
“The Commission utterly denies these baseless allegations and perceives the report as a calculated attempt to mislead the public and tarnish the reputation of the Commission,” he asserted.
According to the PSC, the advancement of officers from Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) followed prescribed procedures and was in full compliance with the statutory framework governing the Commission.
The PSC clarified that it is responsible for appointing, promoting, and disciplining police officers, excluding the Inspector-General of Police, conducting its operations with clarity and a strict adherence to Public Service Rules and established best practices.
The Commission also labeled references to the previous Inspector-General of Police in the article as misleading, emphasizing that the IGP's role is limited to forwarding recommendations based on officers' performance and available openings.
Additionally, the PSC highlighted that the final authorization for promotions is exclusively within the Commission's purview, adding that suggestions of a “pay-to-play” mechanism detract from the integrity of the Board members responsible for the promotion process.
The Commission challenged the news source behind the report to provide credible evidence to back its claims instead of relying on unnamed “insider sources.”
It stated that documents referenced in the news, including internal police wireless communications, merely affirm standard administrative approvals for promotions and do not indicate any financial transactions.
The PSC urged the public to disregard the claims made in the report and reiterated its allegiance to merit-based promotions alongside effective supervision of the Nigeria Police Force.
Furthermore, it encouraged any officer or member of the public who possesses credible evidence of wrongdoing to file petitions directly with the Commission.
Finally, the PSC revealed that it is contemplating legal action against Sahara Reporters due to the publication of these claims, citing alleged defamation and harm to the Commission’s reputation.
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