Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria have backed the Police Service Commission in its face-off with the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano, over the legality of a recent advertisement calling for applications into the institution’s 12th Regular Course degree programme.
Speaking with reporters on Saturday, constitutional lawyers Mike Ahamba, SAN, and Solomon Akuma, SAN, described the Academy’s action as unconstitutional, stressing that the power to appoint police officers lies solely with the PSC, as affirmed by the Constitution and a ruling of the Supreme Court.
POLAC had in an advert stated that online applications for admission into the programme would commence on July 28 and close on September 8.
But the PSC issued a counter-statement, declaring the advert null and void.
According to the PSC’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani, “The commission hereby notifies the general public to disregard the said advertisement as it is not aware and necessary stakeholders’ input was not sought or received.”
Ani noted that the PSC’s constitutional responsibility to recruit officers requires collaboration with key institutions including the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Federal Character Commission, and the Nigeria Police Force.
He described POLAC’s unilateral action as “an undisguised attempt to undermine” the PSC’s mandate.
In his reaction, Ahamba said the Supreme Court had already settled the matter and called on all parties to respect its ruling.
He said, “Well, the Supreme Court has spoken, and that is final. Why should the Police Service Commission not select policemen? There is a difference between political offices and the service offices. If training in the Police Academy is taken to be recruitment, then the vommission must be involved.”
He added, “Let us stop making much ado out of nothing. The Supreme Court has spoken, and everybody should follow. That is the path of discipline.”
On his part, Akuma said the powers of the PSC to employ police officers are clearly defined in the Constitution and cannot be usurped.
“If you look at the Constitution, that was the quarrel between the Police Service Commission and the former Inspector General of Police.
“The IGP wanted to recruit 10,000 policemen without PSC’s involvement, and it led to litigation. The Constitution gave the PSC the power to employ, and that is what they are relying on,” he stated.
Akuma stressed that anyone seeking a career in the police through POLAC must go through the PSC.
“If people are being admitted into the Academy to become police cadets, the Police Service Commission must play a central role. Otherwise, the Academy is merely running a training programme and not a police recruitment exercise.
“You cannot have one body appoint and another promote. That’s why the Constitution established the Police Service Commission as an executive body with clear responsibilities,” he concluded
The dispute underscores ongoing tensions between the PSC and other arms of the policing establishment over recruitment processes, despite a Supreme Court ruling affirming the Commission’s constitutional role in police appointments.
