Why we rejected IG’s nominee for DIG – PSC

Fresh facts have emerged on the promotion of three Deputy
Inspectors-General of Police carried out by the Police Service
Commission last week.

The commission explained that it rejected AIG Abdul Iyaji, who
was recommended by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris,
for elevation to DIG.

The agency, in a statement in Abuja on Monday by its spokesman,
Ikechukwu Ani, said it instead promoted Musa Mohammed as a DIG,
being the most senior officer from the North-West.

The commission noted that the promotion was in line with its
desire to sanitise the police and return the organisation to the
path of rectitude.

Before the recent promotions, the commission explained that the
Nigeria Police Force had four DIGs representing four geopolitical
zones.

They are Maigari Dikko, from Katsina, representing the
North-West; Joshak Habila, from Plateau State, representing the
North-Central; Emmanuel Inyang, from Akwa Ibom State, representing
South-South; and Agboola Oshodi-Glover, from Lagos, representing
the South-West.

The PSC headed by a former IG, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, further
said that since the new management assumed office, it insisted on
working strictly with laid down rules and regulations guiding its
constitutional mandate of appointment, promotion and discipline in
the NPF.

The commission stated that this procedure was observed in the
promotion of three AIGs to DIGs last week.

“The commission considered the recommendations of the IGP of
three AIGs for promotion to DIGs: They were Mohammed Usman from
Bauchi, representing North-East; Peace Ibekwe-Abdallah, from
Anambra, representing the South-East and Abdul Iyaji from Kogi,
representing the North-Central.

“At the time of the recommendation, Musa Mohammed was the most
senior AIG in the Nigeria Police Force but was curiously not
recommended.

“The commission in its wisdom and satisfying the necessary and
relevant requirements approved the recommendations of Sani Usman to
take the place of the North-East and Ibekwe-Abdallah for the
South-East.

“It rejected the recommendation of Iyaji and in his place
promoted the most senior AIG, Musa Mohammed from the North-West,”
the commission explained.