Police
Restore Ranks of Downgraded Officers

By Yemi Akinsuyi, This Day 05.09.2009

The Nigerian Police Force has restored the previous
ranks of two of its officers who were demoted to deputy commissioners of police
last year alongside Nuhu Ribadu, the embattled former Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) boss.

This was one of the high points of the recent
promotion exercise in the force confirmed by the Police Service Commission
(PSC) Wednesday.

The affected officers, Olayinka Balogun, former CP,
Special Fraud Unit, Milverton, Ikoyi, Lagos and Ali Amodu, CP in charge of
Special Investigation Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja have now been restored to
the rank of commissioner of police.

This action brings to four, the number of
downgraded officers whose former ranks have been restored.

Last year, the late former Force Public Relations
Officer (FPRO), Haz Iwendi, who was downgraded to Deputy Commissioner of Police
(DCP) posthumously, was later, alongside Bayo Ajileye restored to the rank of a
full CP.

Ribadu along with139 others senior police officers
were demoted last year for being promoted "in violation of established
criteria."

Ribadu was demoted to the rank of Deputy
Commissioner of Police from the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police
while on a course at the Nigerian Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies,
Kuru, Jos.

The chairman of the PSC, retired Deputy
Inspector-General of Police, Perry Osayande explained then, that the officers
were demoted because their promotions did not follow due process.

Osayande said that the commission was disturbed by
the irregular promotions of the officers prior to the inauguration of the
commission without recourse to the PSC.

During the exercise, nine deputy commissioners of
police were demoted to the rank of Assistant Commis-sioner of Police. Eight
assistant commissioners were demoted to the rank of Chief Superintendents of
Police (CSPs), while 11 CSPs were demoted to the rank of Superintendents of
Police (SP).

Other affected officers were 13 SPs who were
demoted to the rank of Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP), while 29 DSPs
were demoted to the rank of Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP). A total
of 63 ASPs were demoted to the rank of Police Inspectors.

Late last year, Ribadu went to court to challenge his demotion by two ranks. But the police frowned at Ribadu's court action, saying that the Police Act
does not permit any serving member of the force to take legal action against
the authorities.

A nine-page query was subsequently sent to Ribadu. He was eventually dismissed
from the police force for failing to appear before the panel set up to try him.