The Police Service Commission has approved the appointment of six Deputy Inspectors General of Police to replace those recently forced into retirement by police authorities.
SaharaReporters exclusively reported on Monday that the retired DIGs include Dasuki Galandachi, Ali Ari Muhammed, Rhoda Adetutu Olofu, Jonathan Towuru (representing the South-South geopolitical zone), Suleiman Yusuf, Banji Lawal Badru, and Bala Ciroma.
“DIG Ali Ari Muhammed, Jonathan Towuru, Rhoda Adetutu Olofu and Dasuki Galandanchi were told by the IGP to leave a meeting today (Monday).
“DIG FCID (Federal Criminal Investigation Department), Towuru honorably stepped down and did not return after a police senior officer’s retreat in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Banji Lawal Badru also and Bala Ciroma. Their replacements will be announced tomorrow by the Police Service Commission,” a top source revealed to SaharaReporters on Monday evening.
SaharaReporters exclusively reported on Monday night that the replacements for the retired DIGs would be announced today (Tuesday).
Previously, SaharaReporters also reported that Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Egbetokun had ordered senior police officers who refused to retire to appear before a disciplinary committee.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, PSC Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, announced the appointment of six new Deputy Inspectors General of Police: Sadiq Idiris Abubakar, Benjamin Nebolisa Okolo, Williams Adebowale, Bzigu Yakubu Kwazi Bali, Idegwu Basil Ukuoma, and Adebola Ayinde Hamzat.
Until his promotion, Abubakar served as the Commandant of the Police Academy, Wudil, Kano. He was previously the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory, as well as CP for Peacekeeping Operations and Coordinator of the Police Special Forces.
Okolo previously served as the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Zone 16, Yenagoa, and is currently the AIG in charge of the Department of Information Communication Technology at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. Williams Adebowale is the Commandant of the Police Staff College, Jos.
Before his promotion, Bali was the AIG at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Enugu, while Ukuoma served as the AIG of Zone 14, Katsina. Hamzat was the AIG of Zone 16, Yenagoa, and formerly the Commissioner of Police for Oyo State Command.
He also held positions as CP Border Patrol at the Force Headquarters, CP Crime Prevention and Community Safety, Deputy Force Secretary, and most recently, AIG in charge of the Nigeria Police Force Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The selection sessions were presided over by the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu (retd.), alongside Justice Paul Adamu Galumje (retd.), Honourable Commissioner representing the Judiciary in the Commission; DIG Taiwo Lakanu (retd.), Honourable Commissioner representing the Police; and Chief Onyemuchi Nnamani, Secretary to the Commission.
DIG Argungu urged the newly appointed DIGs to provide the Inspector-General of Police with the necessary support and cooperation to enhance the Nigeria Police Force’s ability to secure the country and uphold law and order.
SaharaReporters had exclusively reported that a mutiny was brewing within the Nigeria Police Force as hundreds of senior officers resisted retirement despite being found to have falsified their birth records.
Sources revealed that some of these officers had been in service for up to 44 years, escalating tensions between IGP Egbetokun and some of them, including Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Galandanchi.
Galandanchi had sought a two-year service extension, citing Egbetokun’s own extension as a precedent, after the IGP was granted an exemption from retirement last year.
However, the extension bid was denied by the police authorities.
Two police signals obtained by SaharaReporters indicated that in February, Egbetokun ordered the replacement of some of the affected officers. Meanwhile, police authorities had fully approved the retirement of all implicated personnel.
Additionally, SaharaReporters reported that the IGP directed the posting and redeployment of officers to replace those found guilty of forgery, age falsification, and other violations of service regulations.
A previously published list included about 467 officers implicated in age falsification, among them Simon Lough, SAN, Benneth Igweh, and several others.
The recent controversy surrounding the police force stems from the forced retirement of many senior officers by the Police Service Commission (PSC). The mass retirements affected several Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs), Assistant Inspectors General (AIGs), and others.
The PSC had issued a directive mandating the retirement of officers who have served for 35 years or reached the age of 60, in line with Public Service Rules.
Source: SaharaReporters
