Dr Mike Okiro, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) has said that the letter purportedly demoting the Lagos State Acting Police Commissioner, Edgal Imohimi to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) was not authorized.

The letter written by the Commission’s Permanent Secretary, Musa Istifanus to the Inspector – General of Police, Ibrahim Idris about Imohimi’s demotion to his former rank had generated confusion and consternation within the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force.

Okiro said: “The letter was not authorized by the commission, Istifanus did not write on my behalf. I read the letter too like everybody and I have told the IG to ignore it. The letter was not authorized at all. I will meet with Istifanus about it and find out how the letter came about.”

Also speaking on the development, the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood maintained that Imohimi remained the Acting Lagos Police Commissioner as he had no disciplinary issues that could lead to his demotion.

“The PSC has the power to appoint, promote and discipline officers, but it does not have the power to demote. It can only demote an officer after the Force Disciplinary Committee has looked into what the officer has done and then recommend him for a disciplinary action. PSC can only authenticate what the police take to it,” Moshood said.

“In this case, Acting CP Imohimi has not committed any disciplinary offence and the Force Disciplinary Committee has not recommended him for demotion,” he added.