Abuja, April 13, 2023 -The Police Service Commission (PSC) says it has set up a panel to investigate allegation of $10, 000 bribery scandal in a promotion exercise.
A statement issued on Thursday by Okechukwu Ani, the Head of Press and Public Relations in PSC, said: “the attention of the Police Service Commission has been drawn to a publication by Sahara Reporters of Tuesday, April 11th 2023 on the above story titled “Exclusive: Bribery Scandal Rocks Nigeria Police Service Commission As Officers Allegedly pay $10,000 to get Promotion.
“According to the story, a nebulous group parading as aggrieved officers of the Nigeria Police Force alleged that the Commission gave special promotions to junior officers above senior ones after allegedly collecting bribe of a sum of $10,000.
”The said aggrieved officers, in a statement by one Mr. Chijioke Okonkwo (no rank indicated) on behalf of other officers, urged the Presidency to probe the corrupt practices in the Police Force,” the statement said.
The Commission said it was not selling promotions in the Nigeria Police Force and would not start now when a deliberate effort is being made to reposition and reinvigorate the Nigeria Police Force, especially with the assumption of duty of Dr. Solomon Arase as Chairman of the Commission.
It said it had not formally received any petition or complaint on the above allegation as made by Mr.Chijioke Okonkwo’
The PSC said that the said Chijoke Okonkwo, who posed and signed off on behalf of other officers, forgot that he was a serving Police officer and did not indicate his rank.
“He forgot the line of communication for Officers of the Nigeria Police Force which also guides the Public Service.
“The Commission, therefore, wishes to state as follows: that anyone with evidence on these allegations should, as a matter of urgency, forward same to the Commission as anyone found culpable will be dealt with in line with the laws of the land.
“That the Commission has also set up a panel of investigation, comprising of both Members of the Commission and that of the Nigeria Police Force to investigate these allegations. Aggrieved officers should avail themselves of the existence of this investigative panel and come forward with substantiated proof that could aid the investigation”.
“The Commission insists that those found wanting in the course of the investigation will face the full wrath of the law.
“However, the Commission warns that it will not tolerate any frivolous and fictitious media claims as Officers and Men of the Police should be abreast and conversant with approved lines of communication.
“The Commission directs the Police to fish out the true identity of the said Mr. Chijioke Okonkwo for interrogation,” it said
