Group threatens IG, PSC over special promotion

PLANS by the Police Service Commission (PSC) to reverse the special promotion of police officers, who were promoted for “gallantry and superlative performances” between 2016 and this year, is running into more trouble.

A non-governmental organisation, the Initiative Against Human Rights Abuse and Torture (IAHRAT), is threatening Inspector-General Ibrahim Idris and the Police Service Commission (PSC) with contempt of court over the matter.

Idris has formally written to the PSC, arguing against implementation of the plan.

IAHRAT’s lawyer Mr. Maxwell Okpara told The Nation that any attempt to take whatever step against those given special promotions might lead to contempt of court against the PSC Chairman and the IG.

“The matter is before Honourable Justice A.O. Adeniyi at FCT High Court. We filed the action for enforcement of fundamental human rights because there has always been special promotion in the history of the Police and it is usually given to those who have distinguished themselves, including the likes of Chioma Ajunwa, who won international laurels for Nigeria and many who contributed gallantly in the nation’s fight against Boko Haram.

“It has been given over the years and nobody complained. But now, some people say they want to cancel special promotions and demote some beneficiaries. To reverse such promotions, if you are not starting from the beginning of the history of the police force, you should be starting from 1999 when the current democratic dispensation began; look at all those who got special promotions and demote them.

“Why just pick some recent promotions and start thinking of demoting them? That is why we are suing against discrimination because if you really want to reverse the promotions, you should extend it to all those who have been given special promotions from 1999 till date.

“But when you want to begin picking people because their special promotion came during President Buhari’s tenure or because of IG Idris, without applying same to those promoted under ex-IGs Onovo, MD Mohammed, Suleiman Abba or Arase, why contemplate discriminatory reversal that’ll affect only those promoted under IG Idris?