A lingering power tussle between the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Force Criminal Investigations Department, FCID, Headquarters, Abuja, Mrs. Margaret Ochalla, and the Assistant Inspector General (AIG), Alagbon, Lagos, Simeon Udofia Akpanudom, has taken a new turn with accusing fingers being pointed at the AIG for allegedly vilifying one of the top officers attached to the DIG.

Reports said that a top officer attached to the DIG on official secondment, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ngozi Braide, has been openly accused of abandoning her duties in spite of official clarifications by the DIG that she posted her to FCID Headquarters in Abuja.

The accusation was climaxed with a report purported to come from concerned policemen at the FCID, Alagbon alleging that ACP Braide abandoned her official duties and has not been seen for over six months now.

The report further alleged that some police officers at the FCID, Alagbon petitioned IGP Tunji Disu alleging that ACP Braide was absent from her duty post for three months while on an unauthorised foreign trip and called on the IGP to investigate whether she travelled without obtaining the required official approval from the appropriate police authorities.

However, another team of concerned police officers at the same FCID, Alagbon told journalists that the targeted hostility between the DIG, said to be out of the country on health grounds, and the AIG not only undermines the professional standing of a dedicated officer like ACP Braide, but also openly violates established police hierarchy and administrative protocols.

According to the officers, “This targeted hostility not only undermines the professional standing of a dedicated officer but also openly violates established police hierarchy and administrative protocols. ACP Ngozi Braide is currently deployed on special duty at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Headquarters in Abuja. In this capacity, she operates under the direct command and supervision of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) FCID.

“AIG Akpanudom, who coincidentally also works under the same DIG, has repeatedly bypassed this formal structure, disregarding the authority of the DIG in dealing with ACP Braide — without recourse to his direct supervisor who is the DIG FCID, Margaret Ochalla."

The police officers, who also alleged use of the media to tarnish the image of ACP Braide, further said: “From our independent inquiry within the FCID Annex Lagos, it was discovered that the DIG, FCID, Abuja duly informed the AIG, FCID Annex verbally and through the official signal as well that ACP in question is with her on special duty at the FCID Abuja.

“Even when the DIG was in Alagbon as AIG, ACP Braide was working directly with her. On this discovery, the conduct of the AIG is baffling because it is known that the Police Force is a disciplined organisation that respects hierarchy.

"This raises these questions: Is an AIG now superior to a DIG. Is the AIG, FCID Annex, Lagos no longer under the direct supervision of the DIG, FCID? Is this how discipline has deteriorated in the Police Force?

“This situation is not healthy for a Force with a constitutional responsibility of ensuring orderliness in the society."

The aggrieved police officers expressed optimism that IGP Disu would quickly intervene to resolve the issue and create a healthy working relationship among the affected top officers.