The Nigeria Police Force has announced the suspension of two female police officers for breach of the provisions of the Police Act, 2020, and the NPF guidelines for recruitment, promotion, and discipline of supernumerary police 2013.
The Police Public Relations Officer , Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made this known in a statement issued on Friday.
The Force noted that the two suspended supernumerary officers, Blessing Obaze with SPY number 5709, and Emmanuella Obaze with SPY number 5708, had adorned themselves in conventional police officers’ uniforms contrary to the code regulating the SPY service.
According to the statement, one of them also adorned the rank of Superintendent of Police which is contrary to extant laws.
“They portrayed themselves in the viral video and other videos as undisciplined and unprofessional, in contravention of the Police Social Media Policy, with acts glorifying ill-gotten wealth and ill-morals, which has received wide condemnation from members of the public,” the statement partly read.
Adejobi also said the inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, issued strict warnings on the incessant use of police uniforms restricted to bonafide serving officers of the Force, adding that it is illegal and unwarranted.
The statement added, “The supernumerary police, by the combined effects of the Police Act, 2020 and the Nigeria police guidelines for recruitment, promotion, and discipline of supernumerary police,2013 was established solely to complement the services of regular police officers when needed by ministries, departments, agencies, multi-national companies, and banks, who make requests and upon approval, pay for their training and cover their emoluments for the period of their engagement. (Sections 21-24 of the Police Act, 2020).
“It is equally important to mention that in line with Section 25 (2) (3) of the Police Act, 2020 and the Nigeria police guidelines for recruitment, promotion, the discipline of supernumerary police, 2013, issued by the IG, the mode of dressing for SPY police mandates its SPY officers above the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police not to wear uniforms.
“Similarly, extant laws delineate the supernumerary uniform. It states that they must be on their approved uniform, ash-colored shirt with ‘SPY’ inscriptions all over, over black with shoulder badge carrying the word ‘supernumerary’. Hence, supernumerary officers adorning police black, neon blue or camouflage uniforms run afoul of the law and would be adequately sanctioned.”