The Police Service Commission may have concluded plans to
promote a former acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, Ibrahim Magu, to Assistant Inspector-General of Police.
Magu, a Commissioner of Police, has tendered his
pre-retirement notice and will officially retire from the force on May 5.
But it was gathered on Monday that the PSC Standing
Committee has recommended him for elevation to AIG, a development that may set
the commission on a collision course with the Attorney-General of the
Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
The decision to promote Magu, the most senior Commissioner of Police, followed the recommendation of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba.
Magu’s ordeal began in July 2020 when he was suspended from
office as acting EFCC chairman by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari
(retd.), over Malami’s allegations against him and he consequently appeared
before a presidential panel headed by retired Justice Ayo Salami set up to
probe him for alleged graft and insubordination.
The PSC had last July declined to promote Magu during the
promotion of 24 CPs and other officers.
“The commission declined the promotion of Magu pending
clearance from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice and the Office of the Inspector- General of Police,” the
commission spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, had said in a statement.
The commissioner representing the media in the PSC, Mr Austin
Braimoh, had also said the ex-EFCC boss may not get his retirement benefits
until he is cleared of the allegations levelled against him by the AGF.
But speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior official
said there was no pending disciplinary case against Magu before the commission.
The source said, “Though the government set up a panel, they
didn’t even inform the commission. And Magu has been the most senior
commissioner of police for a very long time and we have been stepping down his
promotion. The AGF should have written to the commission about the case against
him.
“The IG has been
sending his name for promotion, so why shouldn’t we promote him? Already, the
standing committee of the commission has already recommended him for promotion
to AIG. Though he is about to retire from service, he can still be promoted
after retirement.”
When asked about the planned promotion, Braimoh said he was
not aware of the latest decision regarding Magu’s elevation but confirmed that
there was no indictment against the CP.
He stated, “I’m not aware that Magu has been recommended for
promotion but the fact is that there is nothing before the commission indicting
Magu. He is still a policeman and he is in the force receiving his salary.
There is no report to the commission that this man is indicted or that he has a
case or pending disciplinary matter.
“I have not seen a
report that he is undergoing investigation. For any police officer that has a
pending disciplinary matter; the police authorities will never send his name or
recommend him for promotion. So, once a recommendation comes from the IG for
promotion, it means that the officer has no pending disciplinary matter.
“So, if there is a
recommendation from the IG, there is no reason we should deny him promotion; he
can take us to court. If he is due and there is a recommendation, it means
there is no PDM, we will promote him.”
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com