Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
The Police Service Commission (PSC), yesterday, directed four Deputy-Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) to proceed on compulsory retirement.
The affected DIGs were Dan-Mallam Mohammed, Moses Jitiboh, Hafiz Inuwa and Adeleke Bode.
The commission also approved the appointment of new DIGs, Sani Kaoje, Sokari-Pedro, Ayuba Ekpeji and Usman Nagogo to replace the exiting senior police officers.
A statement by the spokesman of the commission, Ikechukwu Ani, said the directive followed the refusal of the senior officers to voluntarily retire following the appointment of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who was until his appointment junior in rank to the DIGs.
With the IG’s appointment, the affected officers were expected to apply for retirement in line with tradition but they refused to do so.
The statement said the directive was “in exercise of its statutory powers, pursuant to the Third Schedule, Part 1 M, para A&B of the 1999 Constitution, reinforced with Section 6 of the Commissions (Establisment) Act 2001, para a, c, d, e, &f, has compulsorily retired four Deputy Inspectors General of Police.
“In the wake of the appointment of the acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun on June 19, 2023 by Mr. President, the commission had expected in consonance with the revered tradition of discipline and regimented culture of the Nigeria Police Force that those DIGS who were seniors in rank prior to his elevation will voluntarily apply for retirement or elect to leave the force.
“The commission, having waited for ample time with no such application from any of them, took the decision to compulsorily retire them in order to uphold discipline which is the bedrock of the force and to discourage status reversal which is inherently inimical to the exercise of authority by the Inspector-General,” he said.
The commission maintained that following their refusals to leave, “the former DIGs have been mandated to immediately proceed on compulsory retirement with effect from Friday, 25th August, 2023.
“The commission appreciates their immense contributions and efforts towards peace and security of our country and also wishes them well in their future endeavours in retirement”.
The statement further disclosed that the commission had approved the appointment of four Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to the rank of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, which would be subject to ratification by the board of the commission to replace the retired DIGs.
The newly appointed DIGs, who were without pending disciplinary matters and/or without any serious medical conditions and health impairments were drawn from the same respective geo-political regions of the retired ones.
They were DIGs Ibrahim Sani Ka’oje, Daniel Sokari-Pedro, Ayuba Ekpeji, and Usman Nagogo.
