The Nigeria Police Force said it redeployed DSP Promise Nwosu, Chief Security Officer, CSO to Gov. Nyisome Wike of Rivers state as a result of gross professional misconduct.
This debunked accusations that the move was politically motivated.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by the Force Spokesman, Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Don Awunah, said Nwosu’s conduct was not in conformity with that of a police officer.
He said that the officer was found among protesting APC party faithfuls in a manner prejudicial to discipline and displaying conduct unexpected of him.
Awunah explained that an Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in the state observed his presence among the protesting partisan crowd.
“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,”he said.
He added that the officer demonstrated brazen indiscipline and showed disrespect to the senior officer when challenged of his action.
“Accordingly, the CSO was officially queried for discreditable conduct, insubordination, engaging in partisan political activities, illegal duty and act unbecoming of a public officer,”he said.
He added that as a result of the gross misconduct and apparent partisanship, the I-G ordered the redeployment of the CSO, pending further disciplinary action.
The spokesman said that the I-G had also constituted an investigative inquiry into the officer’s open engagement in political activities, disrespect to senior officers and unethical practices.
He said that Police and police officers were insulated from partisan politics.
“The I-G therefore warn police officers in any capacity to desist from acts that portray the force in bad light and question the integrity of the personnel,” he said.
He noted that any police officer, especially CSOs, Aides-de-Camp (ADCs) and orderlies who engaged in activities outside the official schedule would be removed and face severe disciplinary action.
“It is instructive to maintain that the redeployment of the CSO to Wike must not be misconstrued or misinterpreted as it is widely reported in the media.
“The Police Force must not be drawn into direct partisan politics and acts that are inimical to peace and public order,”he said.
He said the governor as Chief Security Officer of the state was at liberty to select any officer of his choice from the strength of the command to serve as his CSO.
Awunah warned that under no circumstance should any officer abandon the security of his principal and legitimate duties to engage in direct partisan politics.
(NAN)
