195 senior police officers to face disciplinary panel for misconduct

It was announced yesterday that no fewer than 195 senior police officers are facing a disciplinary panel for various acts of misconduct.

Among the officers are four Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs); 17 Commissioners of Police (CPs); two Deputy Commissioners of Police; six Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs); and 166 others of the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and above.

The affected officers are to face the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) chaired by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of ‘A’ Department, Suleiman Fakai.

Fakai, who briefed reporters at the Force Headquarters shortly before the committee’s sitting yesterday, said all the affected officers had been queried by the various superior authorities at various times within the past three months.

According to him, any of the officers found culpable would be handed disciplinary actions ranging from dismissal, prosecution, demotion, reprimand and warning to advice, depending on the degree of their offences.

Any of the officers found without blemish will be exonerated.

Fakai did not release the names of the affected officers, neither did he specify their offences.

The panel will be sitting from Monday through Friday, between 10am and 6pm. A report containing the recommendations of the committee would be forwarded to the Police Service Commission for action.
Speaking on the activities of the FDC, the police chief said his committee inherited over 3000 cases in January 2013 and that all the cases had been dispensed with.

Some of the officers found culpable in that batch were handed various disciplinary actions ranging from dismissal, prosecution and demotion to reprimand and warning.

The committee chairman corrected the impression among members of the public that only junior officers of the rank and file are punished for acts of misconduct.

He said: “The Force Disciplinary Committee essentially serves to review disciplinary matters involving senior officers from the rank of ASP and above who may have erred in the course of their duties and make recommendations to the Police Service Commission.

“This is in line with extant provisions and Force policy guiding discipline geared towards upholding professionalism, respect for rule of law and observance of human rights among senior police officers in the performance of their duties”.

The Nation