Misconduct, disloyalty:Four police AIGs, 191 others on trial
Also facing trial before the Force Disciplinary Committee are two deputy commissioners, six assistant commissioners and dozens others on the ranks of chief superintendent and assistant superintendent, committee chairman Suleiman Fakai told journalists in Abuja yesterday. Police officers have been routinely accused of abuses, including engaging in extra-judicial killings, extortion and bribery, allegations officials consistently […]
Also facing trial before the Force Disciplinary Committee are two deputy commissioners, six assistant commissioners and dozens others on the ranks of chief superintendent and assistant superintendent, committee chairman Suleiman Fakai told journalists in Abuja yesterday.
Other cases before them are likely to include extra-judicial killings, extortion, theft and robbery, he said, adding that those found guilty of murder would be dismissed and prosecuted. But he said officers dismissed for offences such as murder and manslaughter may be reinstated “if a court requested their reinstatement after exonerating them.”
Fakai said all the 195 disciplinary cases before his committee will be treated between yesterday and July 12.
“The officers who will face the committee include four AIGs, 17 commissioners, two deputy commissioner and six assistant commissioners. The offences against them which include misconduct, disloyalty and wrongful exercise of authority attract punishment such as dismissal, reduction in rank, warning and compulsory retirement,” he added.
Fakai said officers whose guilt is not established will be exonerated while those found guilty would be recommended for punishment.
“The committee will forward its recommendations to the Inspector General who further submits them to the Police Service Commission stating its findings and punishments given to offenders,” he said.
The DIG said about 3,000 disciplinary cases were treated between January 2012 and July this year adding that one commissioner, one assistant commissioner, one chief superintendent and eight assistant superintendents were dismissed while two commissioners and 13 assistant superintendents were retired.
Also, one deputy commissioner, three chief superintendents, 7 assistant superintendents, one deputy superintendent and 10 assistant superintendents were demoted.
Members of the disciplinary committee include all the seven DIGs namely Suleiman Dauda Fakai, Atiku Yusufu Kafur, Emmanuel Kachi Udeoji, Philemon Leha, Peter Yisa Gana, Marvel Akpoyibo and Abdulrahaman O. Akano, as well as the Force Secretary AIG Dan’azumi Job Doma.
“The committee essentially reviews disciplinary matters involving officers from the rank of ASP and above who may have erred in the course of their duties,” Fakai said.
“The committee meets fortnightly with emergency sittings convened when the situation demands, to ensure that disciplinary matters affecting officers are speedily dispensed with and enable the punishment of guilty personnel as well as the exoneration of innocent ones,” he added.
He said Deputy Police Commissioner Danjuma Ibrahim, who is standing trial over the killing of six young traders in Apo, Abuja, in 2005, has since been dismissed from the force.
President Goodluck Jonathan last month asked the Police Service Commission to flush out officers who do not merit the ranks they are holding. “People who are promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police and above must merit the rank. If you don’t merit the rank, you should be retired from the service,” he had said on June 12.
It was not known yesterday if the Police authorities were reacting to the president’s instructions, but a senior officer told Daily Trust the disciplinary committee’s sitting had no connection with the president’s recent statement.