The Police Service Commission (PSC) has dismissed three senior police officers and demoted 16 others over allegations of serious misconduct and breaches of professional standards in the Nigeria Police Force.
The disciplinary action, which affected 42 officers, was approved at the Commission’s plenary meeting presided over by its Chairman, Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Hashimu Salihu Argungu (rtd.), at the Solomon Arase Conference Hall, the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Commission disclosed that 21 officers were awarded severe reprimands, while two others received ordinary reprimands.
Three officers were exonerated after the consideration of their cases, while some previously suspended officers were also reinstated into the Nigeria Police Force.
The decisions followed the consideration of disciplinary cases and appeals through departmental assessments, committee reviews and final deliberations at the Commission’s plenary meeting.
The Commission said the disciplinary measures reflect its commitment to strengthening professionalism, accountability and discipline within the Nigeria Police Force.
Argungu reaffirmed the Commission’s zero-tolerance position on corruption, human rights abuses, interference in land disputes and civil matters, as well as other forms of misconduct by police personnel.
He assured Nigerians that the Commission would continue to ensure the speedy handling of disciplinary cases brought before it.
The PSC said its disciplinary processes are designed to ensure that allegations against police officers received appropriate attention and that decisions are reached after the necessary reviews.
The PSC chairman commended the Chairman of the Commission’s Standing Committee on Discipline and Legal Matters, Justice Paul Adamu Galumje (rtd.), and other board members for their contributions to the consideration of the cases and appeals.
He acknowledged their efforts in examining the matters and ensuring that they underwent the required procedures before the Commission reached its decisions.
The Commission said the disciplinary cases were subjected to departmental, committee and plenary reviews, adding that the approved sanctions, exonerations and reinstatements followed the conclusion of the processes.