PSC commissioner: Ethnic interests hindering investigations into complaints against police personnel

Austin Braimoh, a commissioner in the police service commission (PSC), says ethnic interests within the commission are hindering investigations into complaints against the police personnel.

Speaking on Thursday at a panel discussion on “national security and civil society dialogue” organised by Spaces For Change (S4C) in Abuja, Braimoh faulted citizens for not channelling their complaints against the police to the right agency.

The commissioner said the PSC is often overlooked in police reform while it is the only body instituted to discipline police officers in the country.

“As we speak, a lot of investigations are being carried out by various bodies; National Human Rights Commission, some civil society organisations, some other security agencies. I want to first commend the DG of Spaces For Change that decided to find space for the police service commission otherwise we would have been overlooked,” Braimoh said.

“For infractions of human rights offences, people like me and you, yes, you go to the National Human Rights Commission, but not for a police officer.

“The constitution has provided for this, that if there is any complaint against a police officer, there is a body empowered to investigate and deal with it.

“When there is (a complaint), such reports, first of all, go to other bodies. They’ll go and do all their investigations and sometimes keep it, sometimes they send it to the national assembly, the national assembly will send it to us as “advisory”.

“You can’t remove the uniform of a police officer without the police service commission. So, why the Israelite journey? Why can’t you come straight to the commission to report? We have an investigations department. The law has given us all the powers to investigate every officer from the rank of DIG (deputy inspector general of police) to rank and file.”

PSC RIDDLED WITH ETHNIC INTERESTS 

Braimoh said ongoing investigations into complaints against many officers by the PSC have been frustrated by ethnic interests.

He said the rots in the commission have led to a lack of discipline in the police force, adding that the integrity of the PSC and the force would fade away if nothing is done soon.

“Like I said, when we’re in spaces like this, we have a lot to tell you. The commission is being bedeviled by people with ethnic interests to ensure that all these investigations we have said are not properly done or discipline is not meted out and that the purpose of the commission which is to provide equity is not met,” Braimoh said.

“As we speak, there’s no equity in the recruitment, training, and promotion of the Nigeria Police Force. I stand here as Austin Braimoh, to tell you that the purpose of the commission is being subverted by ethnic interests, so the commission is just there.

“We are not allowed to do what the commission asks us to do and I’m speaking as a commissioner representing south-south of the police service commission.

“I challenge my colleagues to come out and protect a dying institution. The institution is being killed and eroded and that is why we cannot have discipline in the police force. That is why some of the infractions you’re finding cannot be properly investigated.”