By Olakunle Olafioye
The Nigeria Police said it will not allow lack of supervision, nepotism in promotion and postings or favoritism under any guise to prevail in the force.
The force also implored members of the public and Police personnel to discountenance an interview credited to one Aisha Tosan as unfounded, baseless and a total falsehood, describing the opinion expressed in the interview as fallacy which is not the practice of the force.
Tosan had in an interview published in a national newspaper accused the force of favouritism and nepotism in postings even as she claimed that highly placed individuals in the country influenced postings in the force.
But the Police in a statement signed by CSP Jimoh Moshood, Force Public Relations Officer, described Tosan’s claims as misleading and unfounded.
The copy of the statement which was made available to Sunday Sun reads: “The Force is constrained to respond to mirage of falsehoods, unfounded allegations and malicious intentions in the mind of the writer against the Nigeria Police Force and some of the successive Inspectors General of Police who served the Force and our dear Nation, Nigeria diligently without blemish throughout their careers. “Though the Force considered it of less value to respond to unguided utterances and mischievous views expressed by a person that has been very close to the Force, a wife of a serving Commissioner of Police, who is an erstwhile Force Public Relations Officer, it is pertinent to disabuse the mind of Nigerians, most especially those who must have read the story and set the record straight.
“The Nigeria Police Force sees the whole interview and opinion expressed by Aisha Tosan in the report as entirely imaginary, shadowy and instigative allegations which if not responded to can brew disaffection between the personnel of the Force at this critical time that the morale of all officers and men of the Force is so much on high level prompting so many successes and achievements for the Force and the Nation in crime prevention and control throughout the country,” it stated. While noting that the allegations leveled against the Police in the interview were common place rumors not backed facts, the statement expressed surprise over whose interest Tosan granted the damaging interview.
“There is no gain saying that Aisha Tosan has been patronizing the Nigeria Police Force for decades and of late married to a Commissioner of Police who has been running a very bright and responsible career in the Force, but alas and sadly Aisha Tosan’s conclusion on the Nigeria Police Force and its hierarchy is far from being objective to assist to make it function better, but one attack too many targeted at running down the administration of the Force and rubbish the enviable office of the Inspector General of Police past and present.
“It is utterly misleading and wicked for anyone to claim that there is nepotism in the Force, and that competent hands are not posted to state commands, that emirs, ministers, senators influence postings, that IG’s friends enjoy special promotion, state governors lobby for Commissioners of Police and that hardworking officers lose morale.
“The fact remains that postings of officers in the Force are based on merit and the competence of the assigned officer to discharge its expected responsibility effectively and optimally, and not on any other consideration. Furthermore, transfers, redeployment and promotion in the Nigeria Police Force are administrative tools aimed at enhancing utmost efficiency and excellent service delivery of officers and men of the Force to Nigerians.
“The Police Act and Regulations, the Force Orders and Force Administrative Instruction, Public Service Rules and other enabling circulars and guidelines are strictly being complied with in the day to day running of the administration of the Force by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, NPM, mni. “For avoidance of doubt, the Deputy Inspectors General of Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police (Force Secretary) are functional and active members of the Nigeria Police Force Management Team. There is no any acrimony or bad blood within the management team as incorrectly stated by Aisha Tosan in the interview. “However, it is incumbent on the Force to educate the writer of the story and Aisha Tosan that the Nigeria Police Force under the watch of IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, NPM, mni, is a disciplined organisation and will not allow lack of supervision, nepotism in promotion and postings or favouritism under any guise to prevail,” it stated.