Misconduct: PSC probes Kano, Edo police commissioners

Findings by our reporter indicated that the commission has opened an investigation into alleged professional misconduct against the Kano State CP, Rabiu Yusuf, following a petition by the Kwankwasiyya Political Movement. The group had accused the CP of being openly partisan and unprofessional in his conduct. “The CP was accused of supporting Governor Abdullahi Ganduje faction of the All Progressives Congress and sequel to a petition from the Kwankwasiyya group, the commission opened an investigation on him,” a source in the commission disclosed. It was also gathered that the PSC is investigating the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu, over alleged incompetence. It was gathered that the commission had been inundated with petitions about the failure of the police chief to combat crime, particularly kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state. Our correspondent learnt that the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, had recommended Gwandu for promotion to the next rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police. He also sought the permission of the commission to deploy another CP to take over from Gwandu. Our correspondent further gathered that the commission declined to promote Gwandu to AIG on account of the petitions against him. “The commission, however, approved the deployment of another CP in Edo State Command following complaints about his (Gwandu’s) inability to manage the security situation in the state which had reportedly worsened since he took over at the command,” the source said. It was learnt that the IG allegedly failed to effect the commission’s directive to remove Gwandu since July 2017. The continued retention of Gwandu prompted some Edo indigenes to protest at the Police Service Commission headquarters and the National Assembly last Monday in Abuja. Secretary to the commission, Musa Istifanus, who addressed the protesters, said Gwandu was being investigated, adding that their complaint would be quickly handled. The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, declined comments when asked about the alleged failure of the IG to redeploy Gwandu as directed by the commission. Meanwhile, a legal practitioner, Mr. Pelumi Olajengbesi, has described as politically-motivated, the suit filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice against Senator Isa Misau, over his allegations against the IG. The lawyer berated the AGF for refusing to investigate Misau’s allegations against the police boss before filing charges against him. The lawmaker had made series of allegations against Idris bordering on corruption and misconduct, while the police boss had accused the senator of being a deserter and parading a forged retirement letter. But the lawyer, in a statement titled ‘Charging Misau for crime is politically motivated, baseless and a compromise of Buhari’s anti-corruption fight,’ accused the Federal Government of mishandling the matter by suing Misau.]]>