A constitutional lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, on Friday called on the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), to intercede in alleged one-sided promotion exercise about to commence in the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).

The lawyer, who is Executive Director of United Global Resolve for Peace, a civil society organisation, said the intervention became necessary following complaints lodged by some72 aggrieved police officers had lodged complaints over denial of their promotions. He raised accusations that officers of the force were often elevated based on ethnicity and relationships rather than merit.

Olajengbesi, who spoke during a media briefing in Abuja, criticised the development, describing it as being capable of discouraging the officers from diligently performing their responsibilities.

He appealed to Osinbajo to direct the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Sir Mike Okiro, to probe several concerns and ensure equity and fairness in the forthcoming promotional exercise.

According to him, “There is currently a development in the Police. For over six years, the police have been exposed to reckless promotion scandal. You are also aware that there is currently promotion process going on and we are surprised that this process is also enmeshed in a lot of dirtiness, reckless abuse of opportunities, favouritism and some of those acts that doesn’t glorify any nation that practices democracy.

“So we decided to call you to give caution to the Nigerian state and call on the acting president to ensure that the anti-corruption searchlight should be extended quickly to the police.”

Olajengbesi warned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, and PSC Chairman to desist from wrong acts capable of demeaning the force.

“Now that the police are becoming determined in their duties, then people in authority must also treat all police force members with all forms of respect and dignity. Our demand is that everyone who is due for promotion should be promoted.

“When people diligently work in a particular organisation and they are entitled to certain promotions, when they are denied of these promotions, it amount to great discouragement. It will affect their psyche and this is becoming today’s value system,” he added.

In his remarks, Executive Director of the organisation, Olaseni Shalom, said that they have decided to open an electronic mail to enable every aggrieved police officer suffering from the same segregation to express their concerns.

He disclosed plans to engage in advocacy visits to the PSC and subsequently write a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to demand for the list of those who had been promoted, in order to ascertain if the force is biased or otherwise.

Olaseni restated commitment of the group to take up the fight on behalf of the marginalised police officers across the nation.

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