The Nigeria Police Force has said that it redeployed the Chief Security Officer to the Rivers State Governor, DSP Promise Nwosu, for taking part in a political rally organised by the All Progressives Congress.
Describing his action as gross professional misconduct, it stated that Nwosu was found among the protesting party faithful on November 17, 2016, in a manner prejudicial to discipline and displaying conduct unexpected of an officer of his calibre and office.
The statement was in reaction to allegations by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, that the CSO’s withdrawal was meant to make him vulnerable to physical attacks during the forthcoming legislative rerun in the state.This was contained in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, by the Force Public Relations Officer, Donald Awunah.
Wike had announced the withdrawal of his CSO last Monday and alleged that the police were partisan and plotting to compromise his security, stressing that he was looking up to God and the youths to protect him.
But in its first reaction to the allegation, the police stated that the CSO’s participation in the political rally of an opposition party to the governor in a clandestine and suspicious manner was considered mischievous and detrimental to the security of the state and public order.
The police added that his alleged action was contrary to his oath of office which constituted an offence.
Awunah said when questioned by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in Rivers State, the former CSO demonstrated brazen indiscipline and showed disrespect to the senior officer, “exhibiting conduct that violates all known norms of the force.”
He said, “In the course of monitoring the public protest, an Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in Rivers State observed the presence of the CSO among the protesting partisan crowd as illegal, unlawful and outside prescribed schedule of the duties of a CSO.
“The active presence of the CSO to the governor in a partisan crowd of an opposition party to the governor in a clandestine and suspicious manner was considered mischievous and detrimental to the security of the state and public order and also contrary to his oath of office which constitute an offence against discipline.
“The CSO to the governor, when challenged by a superior officer demonstrated brazen indiscipline and showed disrespect to the senior officer, exhibiting conduct that violates all known norms of the force.
“Accordingly, the CSO was officially queried for discreditable conduct, insubordination, engaging in partisan political activities, illegal duty and act unbecoming of a public officer.”
The police spokesman further explained that as a result of the gross misconduct and apparent partisanship by Nwosu, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, ordered his redeployment pending further disciplinary action.
“To this end, the IG has also constituted an investigative inquiry into the officer’s open engagement in political activities, disrespect to senior officers and unethical practices,” Awunah added.
He stressed that it was imperative that police officers were insulated from partisan politics, noting that the IG had warned all police officers in any capacity to desist from acts that portrayed the force in a bad light and questioned the integrity of the personnel.
In addition, the Force said any police officer, especially CSOs, Aides-de-Camp and orderlies attached to political officer holders or senior government officials who engaged in activities outside the official schedule would be removed and made to face severe disciplinary action.
“It is instructive to maintain that the redeployment of the CSO to Governor Wike must not be misconstrued or misinterpreted as it is widely reported in the media. The Police Force must not be drawn to direct partisan politics and acts that are inimical to peace and public order,” the police stated.
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