Several senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force have expressed their concerns and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to address the ongoing promotion exercise within the force. These officers allege that the Police Service Commission has engaged in corrupt practices by granting special promotions to junior officers above their senior counterparts in exchange for bribes, with sums reaching as high as $10,000.

In a statement released by Mr. Chijioke Okonkwo on behalf of the aggrieved officers, the presidency was urged to investigate the rampant corruption and injustices that are allegedly taking place within the police force. The statement, made available in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Tuesday, detailed the serious concerns regarding the ongoing promotion process.

The statement further highlighted that there are instances where junior officers have been promoted ahead of their senior counterparts, with backdated dates of promotion.

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Two aides of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) who were previously promoted to the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) in 2018 recently received special promotions to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), with their date of promotion backdated to 13/07/2021.

This has resulted in officers who were promoted through the normal process in 2015 and recently elevated to the status of ACP with their promotion date set as 27/03/23, making them junior to their subordinates.

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The statement further revealed that a list of officers, most of whom are serving in Lagos State Command, have allegedly paid bribes of up to $10,000 to influential individuals within the Police Service Commission in exchange for special promotions and backdated promotion dates under the guise of community recommendations. This corruption has reportedly caused turmoil within the force and is seen as detrimental to discipline, competency, and commitment among police personnel.

As a solution, the statement called on President Buhari and other relevant authorities to urgently carry out a reorganization of the Police Service Commission, appointing individuals who are known for their integrity and commitment to the values of transparency and accountability.

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According to the statement, would help curb the rampant corruption and restore the integrity of the promotion process within the Nigeria Police Force.

The aggrieved officers have raised serious concerns about corrupt practices in the ongoing promotion exercise within the Nigeria Police Force, specifically citing special promotions and backdated dates in exchange for bribes. Urgent action, including a reorganization of the Police Service Commission, has been called for to address these issues and restore the integrity of the police force.