Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Isah Hamma Misau (APC, Bauchi), said police officers pay as much as N2.5million to get special promotion through the Police Service Commission (PSC).

Misau, a retired police officer told our correspondent when contacted on the bribery scandal allegedly rocking the PSC.

A source had told our correspondent that police officers pay as much as N500,000 to benefit from the special promotion being coordinated by the PSC and office of the Inspector General of Police.

The source said: Officers pay as much as N500,000 to get promoted. It is only those that pay the money and those who are close to the top echelon of the police and politicians that are benefitting from the special promotion.

“Special promotion, which is supposed to be reward for gallantry and outstanding performance, has turned to cash and carry. Otherwise, why is that officers who are serving in the Northeast have not benefitted? Why is that all those who have benefitted are those manning juicy posts and close to politician?’’ he said.

But when contacted to speak on it, Misau said: “You are talking about N500, 000, it’s beyond that. A serving police officer aware of the trend has told me that they pay as much as N2.5 million to get special promotion. Other sources have also confirmed to me. So it is nothing but fact.’’

Misau who is member of the anti-corruption committee of the Senate said he would discuss the issue with the leadership of the Senate, when they resume from annual recess next month.

“We cannot just fold our hands and allow this to continue. The special promotion should be reversed as it was done during the time of Nuhu Ribadu. Unless this is done the lives of Nigerians would no longer be secured. The special promotion is highly compromised,’’ he said.

He added that: “Corruption is not only associated with money, it has many forms and money for promotion is part of it. We have to urgently address this because the consequence is what we are witness today’’.

Our correspondent reports that in 2008, a former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu and 138 others were demoted over special promotion scandal.

Also speaking, a serving police officer (name withheld) said the trend has negatively affected performance and morale, saying bribe for promotion was one of the reasons the country was recording increase in cases of crime.

“I’m tired of the bribe for promotion. Junior officers are being promoted and deployed to strategic locations. I swear if I have capital I would’ve resigned from the force,” he said.

At the weekend, some lawyers and activists under the aegis of United Global Resolve for Peace (UGRFP), urged Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to look into the favouritism and exclusion in the ongoing promotion in the police.

Meanwhile, the Police Service Commission (PSC) has denied a report that its officials are in the habit of collecting bribes from police officers to facilitate their promotion.

When contacted the spokesman of the Commission Ikechukwu Ani said, “It is not true. The Commission has not and will never collect bribes for promotion.

“The IGP sends recommendations and the Commission considers the promotion and takes a decision.”

In a related development, Mr Abubakar Mohammed, Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 5, with headquarters in Benin, has presented 10 cheques worth N12.8 million to families of 10 deceased officers.

A statement by Mr Emeka Iheanacho, the Zone’s Police Public Relations Officer, said that the money was from the Nigeria Police Group Life Assurance Claim Settlement Scheme.

Mohammed said that the gesture was to assist the survivors of the heroes, who paid the supreme price by sacrificing their lives for Nigeria.

He commiserated with the beneficiaries over the demise of their husbands, and noted that no amount of money was enough to replace their bread winners.

The AIG reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to the welfare of its officers and men, in the efforts to encourage them to put in their best toward ridding Nigeria of criminals.

Seven beneficiaries from Edo Command received N7,694,769 million, while three from Delta Command received N5,107,210 million. (Daily Trust/NAN)

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