The outgoing Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Sir Mike Mbam Okiro, has promoted 12 policemen to the ranks of Commissioners of Police, The Eagle Online has gathered.
This comes just as several policemen kicked against what they have termed the bastardised way of promoting junior officers ahead of their seniors.
Policemen, both junior and senior, have repeatedly spoken against this method of awarding promotions to those not due.
The Eagle Online learnt that at least 10 among the listed policemen are based on special promotions, which several policemen had repeatedly alleged are given after money exchanges hands.
The other two policemen, which brings the total number of promoted CPs to 12, are said to be rightfully qualified because they were already quite due for the ranks of CPs.
The 10 officers’ names, which sneaked into the promotion, have been described as “illegal” by some angry policemen.
The 12 policemen are all Deputy Commissioners of Police.
The Eagle Online was told that among those that found their way into Okiro’s parting gift special list promotion are Dan Okoro Aguike (Deputy Commissioner, Administration, Budget) and Adeleke Yinka, Aide-De-Camp to President Muhammadu Buhari.
One of the angry policemen disclosed: “The most annoying issue in this mockery of promotion is that most of those on the special list were promoted just last year.
“Go and check, many of their seniors are still in the wings, waiting to be promoted.”
It was further gathered that the 12 policemen will be interviewed Thursday (today) at about 10am and by Monday everything that has to do with the promotions would have been completed, sealing the deal.
The policemen are also expected to be decorated and to start wearing their new ranks by next week.
A police source said: “The president’s ADC was deliberately placed in the list to make concerned, nosy and curious people in high positions to look away, rather than question the illegalities going on in the police and this silly special promotions.
“According to police rules and regulations, there should be at least three performances to merit special promotions.
“This lot have not done or achieved anything.
“In fact, let them tell us just one thing they have done to warrant this present special promotion.”
Another source further revealed: “The President’s ADC’s name is on list is there to launder the image of the list. It’s an illegal list! It’s been long they have been chasing him to come and ‘collect’ promotion. He had repeatedly rejected the offer. The last time he was called, he didn’t heed them. Maybe this time again he wouldn’t go. The ADC knows that everything about those promotions is illegal. The truth is that Okiro should return officers’ money and stop destroying the Nigerian Police Force. Do you see these sorts of shenanigans going on in the military?”
Incidentally, it’s not only senior policemen that will benefit from this parting gift promotions.
The Eagle Online learnt that several junior officers are also going to be announced soon.
“That’s when the real trouble will start,” said a police source. “So many junior officers are going to be angry and demoralised. Those who are senior today will soon become junior officers to their junior officers.”
The Eagle Online was also gathered that the DCA budget, who had served most of his years in the budgeting department, is allegedly being primed to become the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the department.
A close source mentioned: “There is a Commissioner of Police there, but it’s the DCA that is being prepared to take over. I bet you that he would soon be promoted above the Commissioner in that department. The CP there will soon be kicked out. There’s an AIG there, but he will soon retire.
“I know of senior policemen, who trained these policemen that are being promoted to the ranks of CP. These policemen showed these men the ropes and how to do the job. Sadly, today, those trained have become seniors to those that trained them and nobody seems to find such situation crazy and worrisome. It’s a tragic situation.
“In Nigerian Police Force today, I’m sorry to say this, but most promotions are cash and carry. Try and go to Okiro’s home in Imo State, you will several policemen gathered, waiting to see him. It’s all about promotions. Gone are the days when promotion comes to you because it is due. Gone are those days when special promotions are really special. Today, special promotions means someone has paid money. It’s a term used to cover illegal promotions.”
It will be recalled that several times Okiro has been accused of collecting money from policemen for promotions, but he has repeatedly denied the allegation.
He has also explained that he couldn’t possibly carry out promotion alone.
According to him, he only works on names presented to him by the Inspector-General of Police.
It will be recalled that after the story on the planned special promotion was broken by The Eagle Online, sources said the Presidency had directed that it should be stopped.
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