At least 151 senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force are currently facing a disciplinary panel constituted by the Force Headquarters over alleged misconduct, breaches of professional conduct, and other ethical violations.
The officers, drawn from various commands and formations across the country, are being investigated by the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC), which commenced sittings on Monday, July 14, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. The panel is expected to conclude its sitting within 10 days and forward its recommendations to the Police Service Commission (PSC) for further action.
Findings revealed that disciplinary measures may range from demotion to outright dismissal for some of the affected officers, depending on the severity of their infractions.
This latest wave of disciplinary action comes in addition to the 34 officers already dismissed under the tenure of the current Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, who assumed office in 2023.
Sources within the Force told Business Hallmark that the number of officers appearing before the panel has risen sharply in recent weeks, partly due to their alleged links to underground protests over poor welfare conditions. However, the Force has officially maintained that the officers are being tried strictly for misconduct and professional violations.
“In the past, we never had this number of senior officers facing disciplinary panels at the same time,” a senior officer who requested anonymity said. “But recently, internal unrest over low wages and poor allowances in the face of rising cost of living has led to grumblings, and some people are now being made scapegoats.”
Another source revealed that some of the officers under probe are being accused of instigating retired personnel to publicly criticize the police leadership, particularly over dissatisfaction with the Contributory Pension Scheme.
“Retirees have been vocal lately, and the allegation is that some serving officers are encouraging them to go public with their grievances,” the source said. “If they say it’s misconduct, then let them make public the nature of these offences. I’m not saying there are no bad eggs, but over 150? That’s excessive!”
The ongoing disciplinary hearings follow a series of petitions submitted to the IGP by lawyers, civil society organisations, and businesspeople, citing alleged police brutality, extortion, kidnapping, and other misconducts by officers.
Historically, the Police Service Commission has imposed various sanctions on erring officers, including dismissal, demotion, and in some cases, criminal prosecution, all aimed at upholding discipline and deterring unethical behaviour within the Force.
In a statement confirming the disciplinary proceedings, Force Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the process is part of ongoing efforts to promote professionalism and restore public trust.
“The Force Disciplinary Committee is a key internal mechanism for adjudicating alleged breaches of professional conduct, misconduct, and ethical violations by officers of the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police and above,” Adejobi said.
He added that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, remains committed to ensuring integrity and ethical conduct across all levels of the Force.
“The Nigeria Police Force will not condone any form of indiscipline or misconduct,” the statement read. “This disciplinary process underscores our commitment to maintaining an accountable, service-driven institution where standards are enforced and the rule of law is respected internally.”
The outcome of the panel's work is expected to set a new tone for discipline within the Force amid growing public demand for police reforms.
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