IG rejects list of 2022/2023 police recruits, alleges fraud, corruption

The Nigeria Police Force has alleged irregularities and corruption in the recently released list of successful candidates in the ongoing 2022/23 police constables recruitment.

A statement from the Force Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, explained that the concern followed a deluge of complaints from unsuccessful candidates and stakeholders over the disappearance of names of those who were screened and successful up to the final stage.

Adejobi stated that scrutiny of the published list revealed several anomalies.

He said, “Several names of persons purported to be names of successful candidates are those who did not even apply and therefore did not take part in  the recruitment exercise”.

Adejobi added that the list contained names of candidates who had failed either the Computer Based Test or the physical screening, as well as those disqualified after being found medically unfit.

“Most worrisome is the allegation of financial dealings and corrupt practices leading to the outcome where unqualified and untrainable individuals have been shortlisted,” he stated.

The police spokesman revealed that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokun, had on June 10 written to the Chairman of the Police Service Commission objecting to the list and citing the irregularities discovered.

“The reaction of the IGP was without prejudice to the power of the commission to recruit for the police as ruled by the Supreme Sourt but this power does not include the power to recruit unqualified and untrained individuals for the police,” Adejobi stated.

He added, “Noting that it is the police that bears the brunt of recruitment of unqualified individuals and not the PSC. The same people who recruited anyhow for the police today will turn round to accuse the police tomorrow of inefficiency when their recruits start messing up.”

Adejobi disclosed that the police had  dissociated themselves from the published list and called for a transparent and credible review of the process to recruit “qualified, competent, trainable and productive hands into the Nigeria Police Force, in line with the vision of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration on police reform.”

The statement assured Nigerians that the police were committed to ensuring the process was thoroughly reviewed to be fruitful and successful for the betterment of the force and the country.