Speaking to SaharaReporters, the officers who are currently on inspectorate rank accused their superiors in charge of the exercise of corruption and extortion.
Some personnel of the Nigeria Police Force in Rivers State have cried out that they are being forced to pay N15,000 each before their file would be processed for their promotion interview.
Speaking to SaharaReporters, the officers who are currently on inspectorate rank accused their superiors in charge of the exercise of corruption and extortion.
In a signal dated May 26, 2023, officers were asked to report to the force headquarters on June 5, 2023, with their files for a promotion interview.
The police signal read, “TO: NIGPOLS DFANDOBS/ DLS RFENID /ADD /R &P / ICT ABUJA.
INFO: POLSCOM/INGENPOL SEC ABUJA/AIGPOL BUDGET ABUJA. SH.4650/FS/FHQ/ABJ/DSB/DSB-
However, an inspector attached to the Rivers State command told SaharaReporters that they were forced to pay N15,000 each before their file would be processed for their interview in Zone 16 Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
He said the ‘bribe’ was collected in cash by their superiors at the state headquarters, Moscow Road in Port Harcourt.
According to him, over 2,000 police Inspectors were expected to attend the promotion board interview.
“When rank and file are caught extorting from Nigerians, the police authorities will quickly disgrace them by releasing their pictures, whereas the real thieves and corrupt people in the force are the officers,” one of the aggrieved officers told SaharaReporters.
“Imagine, Inspectors of Police were directed and forced to pay N15,000 each before our files would be processed for interview in Zone 16 Yenagoa for our promotion interview starting from 5th June - 16 June 2023. Failure to pay, you will be excluded from the board interview.
“The collection of the N15,000 is still ongoing at the Police Headquarters, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt. Over two thousand police Inspectors will be attending the board interview in Yenagoa,” another source said.
Recently, SaharaReporters reported how some aggrieved senior police officers alleged that junior staff were being promoted by the Police Service Commission after receiving a bribe of $10,000.
The officers had expressed their grievance through a statement signed by their representative Chijioke Okonkwo, and called on ex-Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to probe corrupt practices in the PSC.
The statement had read, “There is a serious corruption in the Nigeria Police in the ongoing promotion of senior police officers, where junior ones are being given special promotions ahead of their seniors.
“Of recent, two of the IGP aides who were earlier promoted to Chief Superintendent of Police in year 2018 recently benefited from the special promotion to the rank of Assistant Commissioner and have their date of promotion backdated to 13/07/2021 while officers who are running the normal promotions, promoted to CSP in year 2015 and recently elevated the status of ACP with their date as 27/03/23, making later junior to their subordinates.
“The mother of all the corruption is a list of some officers most of whom are serving in Lagos State Command, they have paid as much as ten thousand US Dollars ($10,000) to some notable people in Police Service Commission, for them to be given special promotions to their next rank and have their dates of promotion backdated under the disguise of community recommendations.
"This has taken the Inspector General of Police aback and generating rancor within the force headquarters. Such corrupt practices can only bring indiscipline, incompetency and lack of commitment in the force.
"The President and Commander in Chief of Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammodu Buhari and other concerned authorities should as a matter of urgency carry out re-organisation in Police Service Commission and appoint corrupt free and God-fearing individuals as Commissioners into commission."
When contacted, Rivers State police command spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she wasn’t aware of the alleged extortion.
She also urged the victims to meet her in person and promised to protect their identities.
“This is the first I am hearing about this case. But I promise to investigate,” Iringe-Koko told SaharaReporters.