The Police Service Commission (PSC) has issued a directive for the immediate compulsory retirement of four senior Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs), namely Dan-Mallam Mohammed, Moses Jitiboh, Hafiz Inuwa, and Adeleke Bode. These DIGs were found to be in violation of established police tradition by not retiring after the appointment of their colleague, Olukayode Egbetokun, as the acting Inspector-General of Police.
However, the PSC has simultaneously endorsed the promotion of four Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, namely Ibrahim Ka’oje, Daniel Sokari-Pedro, Ayuba Ekpeji, and Usman Nagogo, to the rank of DIGs. This promotion is subject to ratification by the commission’s board and is intended to fill the vacancies left by the retired DIGs.
The spokesperson for the commission, Ikechukwu Ani, shared this information with journalists in Abuja on Monday. Ani clarified that the PSC’s decision was based on its statutory authority as outlined in the Third Schedule, Part 1 M, para A&B of the 1999 Constitution, further reinforced by Section 6 of the PSC (Establishment) Act 2001, para a, c, d, e, & f.
Ani explained that the order became necessary because the PSC had expected the senior DIGs, who held higher ranks prior to Egbetokun’s appointment as IG, to voluntarily retire. This expectation was in line with the respected tradition of discipline and structured culture within the Nigeria Police Force.
Ani stated, “Following the appointment of the acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on June 19, 2023, by the President, the Commission anticipated, in alignment with the cherished tradition of discipline and structured culture of the Nigeria Police Force, that those DIGs who held senior ranks before his elevation would choose to retire or opt to leave the Force.”
He continued, “However, with no such applications forthcoming within the expected timeframe, the Commission made the decision to enforce their compulsory retirement. This was done to uphold discipline, which forms the foundation of the Force, and to discourage status reversal, which is inherently detrimental to the effective exercise of authority by the Inspector General.”
The recently promoted DIGs, who do not have any pending disciplinary issues or significant medical conditions, were selected from the same geographical regions as the retired DIGs, as per Ani’s explanation.