The agency said the IG refused to obey the Appeal Court judgment nullifying his purported mandate to recruit constables into the Nigeria Police Force “because he enjoys the supervision of people bearing arms.”

It was gathered on Friday that the commission complained to the President after the IG wrote to the PSC, saying he would not hand over the recruitment exercise.

According to a source, the commission in its letter to the President accused the IG of setting a bad precedent by failing to obey a court order, adding that the service asked Buhari to prevail on the police boss.

The official stated, “The IG, the chief law officer of the federation, has decided to disobey the judgment of a competent court of law and has yet to secure a stay of execution. The commission obeyed the decision of the lower court even when it had appealed the ruling.

“The IG is still insisting on the judgment of the lower court and the Police Act; he is setting a bad precedent because he enjoys the supervision of people with arms. The commission has, however, written to the President to call the IG to order (sic).”

The had PSC directed the IG to hand over the 2019 and the ongoing 2020 recruitment exercise in a letter dated October 20, 2020, signed by the Commission Chairman, Musiliu Smith.

The agency hinged its demand on the September 2020 Court of Appeal judgment which nullified a lower court ruling dated December 2, 2019, and affirmed the commission’s constitutional mandate to recruit constables into the Nigeria Police Force.

But justifying his refusal to hand over the recruitment exercise in his letter to the commission, Adamu argued that the NPF had filed a Notice of Appeal on October 2, challenging the Appeal Court judgment “in the exercise of our constitutional right of appeal.”

He further said a Motion on Notice for injunction pending the appeal was equally filed by the NPF, the Minister of Police Affairs and the office of the IG at both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

“The said Notice of Appeal filed on 2nd October 2020 as well as the Motion on Notice for an injunction pending appeal on 2nd October and 26th October, respectively, have been duly served on the Police Service Commission,“ the letter read.

It was titled, ‘Re: Judgment of Appeal Court in Appeal No: CA/A/84/2020 in relation to the 2019 and 2020 recruitment exercise of constables into the Nigeria Police Academy.’

The police chief also cited various precedents to validate his decision not to release the constable recruitment to the commission, adding that upon receipt of the certified true copy of the appellate court judgment, “we have also filed a comprehensive Notice of Appeal consisting of 23 grounds.”

The letter debunked the assertion by the PSC that the Appeal Court judgment nullified the Police Act, 2020, noting that the issue was not raised or determined in the court order.

It said, “The issues regarding the Police Act, 2020, having not been raised, considered or determined in the judgment of the Court of Appeal, the provisions of the said Police Act, 2020 are extant.

“Assuming there are issues arising from the Police Act, 2020, they are fresh issues for which a fresh action must be filed to challenge the same by the Police Service Commission.”

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Ikechukwu Ani, PSC spokesman, who broke the news on Friday, said a presidential panel set up on the reform of SARS, made the recommendation.

He said the panel had among other things investigated allegations of human rights violations and abuse of office against SARS and recommended reform or restructuring of the outfit.

Anichukwu said Tony Ojukwu, executive secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), presented the report of the panel to Musiliu Smith, chairman of PSC, on Friday.

“We have come to see a PSC determined to play a leading role in the reform of the Nigeria Police Force”, Ojukwu was quoted to have said.

Ojukwu said the reform is the most topical issue in the country, adding that a lot is expected from the PSC.

He said the panel received 113 complaints on alleged human rights violations from across the country and 22 memoranda on suggestions on how to reform and restructure SARS and the police in general.

“The Panel also directed the Inspector General of Police to unravel the identity of 22 officers involved in the violation of the human rights of innocent citizens,” he said.

Smith said the PSC will collaborate and support the human rights commission in the promotion of good governance.

He, however, said for an effective reform, there must be a deliberate effort to select capable, professional and credible people to replace the disbanded outfit.

The selected officers, he added, must be properly trained and exposed to regular training.

Smith said there must also be close supervision of the newly selected officers so that the nation will not experience the rot that became the fate of the disbanded unit.

He also made a case for proper and living accommodation for the police officers, saying they need good accommodation to put in their best.

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The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Owoseni was police commissioner in Lagos from July 1, 2015, to September 1, 2017.

NAN reports that the retiring officers were pulled out at a colourful ceremony in Lagos amidst cheers by family members, colleagues, and other dignitaries.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Intelligence Investigation Department (FCIID), Peace Ibekwe Abdallah, who represented the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, commended the retiring officers for their service to the nation.

“Congratulations to all the retiring senior officers and to their families, we say a big thank you for the support.

“As you bow out today, the IG, the entire police and the nation say a big thank you. You have served well and God will reward you abundantly,” she said.

A retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Alapini, who represented the Police Service Commission Chairman, Musiliu Smith, also advised the retiring officers to be wary of the environment they were retiring to.

“You are retiring into a new world, the world of the police is different from the world of retirement. A lot of people are waiting for you thinking you have money to invest, you have to be wary and careful. Please, be faithful to your family,” he said.

Speaking at the ceremony, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi of Elegushi Ikate, commended the retiring police officers for their service to the nation.

“I know how passionate you are about the country. How you work to keep the country safe. We Nigerians often forget where we come from. Nigeria’s problem has been there for a while and it will take more than four years to solve. It is just for our government to do the right thing,” he said.

Also speaking, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Rasheed Akanbi, commended the retiring police officers for their service to the nation.

“I understand what the police stand for as they have made Nigeria more secure, they are the greatest law enforcement agents,” the monarch said.

Among the retiring officers were AIG Abdul Bube, AIG Hilda Ibifuro-Harrison, CP Agyole Abeh, CP Joseph Agaji and CP Gbemisola Akinpelu.

Others were CP Bello Ahmed, CP Abdullahi Ibrahim, CP Bello Yahaya, CP Adekinte Ademoju, CP Wakili Maye, CP Fave Semili and CP Ahmed Magaji.

NAN further reports that 55 police officers of the ranks of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Commissioner of Police (CP), Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) retired from the force across the country.

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