Commission Probes Alleged $10,000 Bribe-for-Promotion In Police

The Police Service Commission (PSC), has set up a panel to investigate the alleged $10,000 bribe-for-promotion in the Nigeria Police Force.

A police officer, identified as Mr. Chijioke Nwankwo, had alleged that officers pay as much as $10,000 to get promotion even above their seniors with back-dates up to three years.

According to the story circulated in the media earlier this week, some aggrieved officers of the Nigeria Police Force alleged that the PSC gave special promotions to junior officers above senior ones after allegedly collecting bribes of a sum of $10,000.

They called on the presidency to probe the corrupt practices in the police force.

Reacting to this, the PSC spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani said that the commission “does not sell promotions in the Nigeria Police Force and will not start now when a deliberate effort is being made to reposition and reinvigorate the Nigeria Police Force, especially with the assumption of duty of Dr. Solomon Arase as chairman.”

He said: “as at the time of this statement, the commission has not formally received any formal petition or complaint on this allegation.

“The said Mr Chijioke Okonkwo who posed and signed off on behalf of other officers forgot that he is a serving Police officer and did not indicate his rank. He forgot the line of communication for officers of the Nigeria Police Force which also guides the Public Service.

“The commission wishes to state as follows; that anyone with evidence on these allegations should, as a matter of urgency, forward the same to the commission as anyone found culpable will be dealt with in line with the laws of the land.

“The commission has also set up a panel of investigation, comprising of both members of the commission and that of the Nigeria Police Force to investigate these allegations. Aggrieved officers should avail themselves of the existence of this investigative panel and come forward with substantiated proof that could aid the investigation.”

Ani also stated that “the commission insists that those found wanting in the course of investigation will face the full wrath of the law.

“However, the commission warns that it will not tolerate any frivolous and fictitious media claims as officers and men of the Police should be abreast and conversant with approved lines of communication.

“The commission directs the Police to fish out the true identity of the said Mr  Chijioke Okonkwo for interrogation.”