EXCLUSIVE: Disquiet in EFCC over elevation of junior officers above superiors

August 6, 2020 1:20 pm

Some officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been deployed to head zones and units where qualified senior officers are.

Mohammed Umar, a deputy commissioner of police and acting chairman of the commission, approved the postings that have left some officials demoralised, according to sources.

In a memo seen by TheCable, Umar redeployed a total of 37 officers, 20 of whom were listed as heads of various zones and units while others listed as second in command.

The ranks of some of the newly deployed officers are principal detective superintendent (PDS), deputy chief detective superintendent (DCDS), chief superintendent of police (CSP) and assistant commissioner of police (ACP).

They were directed to resume their new duty posts immediately.

An official of the anti-graft agency who spoke off the record told TheCable that the postings are against the hierarchical standards in the commission.

“The new posting just came out and level 12/13 officers are put as zonal heads over a level 16 officer to be taking instructions from?” the source said.

“Legal department is not working. Until issues of seniority are addressed, there can never be justice and the law officers just sit back and watch. EFCC is the only agency where seniors take orders from juniors.”

In the past weeks, the EFCC has been in the news following a probe which led to the suspension of Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the commission.

The police force had also posted the officers deployed from the EFCC to different commands across the country.

TheCable had reported how Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police, recalled some officers attached to the anti-graft agency in a bid to rid the agency of those suspected to have close ties to Magu.

Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s spokesperson, did not respond to a message seeking his reaction over the new postings.

Below is a list of all the officers who were redeployed: