IGP Usman Alkali Baba, the inspector general of police, has suspended two supernumerary police officers, Obaze Blessing and Obaze Emmanuella Uju, with immediate effect for violating the Police Act of 2020 and the Inspector-General of Police’s Guidelines for Recruitment, Promotion, and Discipline of Supernumerary Police (SPY), 2013, as shown in a viral video that one of the officers posted.
The officers gained notoriety recently as a result of TikTok videos showing them in and out of uniform looking hot.
According to a statement made by CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Suprenumerary police officers dressed in uniforms that were inappropriate for their rank and broke the police department’s social media policy.
Adejobi urged all supernumerary policemen to scrupulously abide by the law since violating officials would face harsh punishments. In order to impose the appropriate sanctions on additional defaulters, the Force is also reviewing other cases of transgressions against Supernumerary Police members.
The statement in part reads
”By the combined effects of the Police Act, 2020 and the Nigeria Police Guidelines for Recruitment/Promotion/Discipline of Supernumerary Police (SPY),2013 was established solely to complement the services of regular Police Officers when needed by Ministries, Departments and Agencies/Multi-National Companies, and Banks who make requests and upon approval pay for their training and cover their emoluments for the period of their engagement. (Sections 21-24 of the Police Act, 2020).
It is equally important to mention that in line with Section 25 (2) (3) of the Police Act, 2020 and the Nigeria Police Guidelines for Recruitment/Promotion/Discipline of Supernumerary Police (SPY), 2013issued by the Inspector-General of Police (Guidelines for SPYs), the mode of dressing of SPY police mandates its SPY officers above the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police not to wear uniforms. Similarly, extant laws delineate the Supernumerary uniform. It states that they must be on their approved uniform, ash coloured shirt with “SPY” inscriptions all over, over black with shoulder badge carrying the word “SUPERNUMERARY”. Supernumerary Officers adorning police black, neon blue or camouflage uniforms run afoul of the law and would be adequately sanctioned.
The suspended supernumerary officers – Obaze Blessing with SPY number 5709, and Obaze Emmanuella Uju with SPY number 5708, adorned themselves in conventional police officers’ uniforms contrary to the code regulating the SPY service. One of them similarly adorned the rank of Superintendent of Police which is contrary to extant laws. Above all, they portrayed themselves in the viral video and other videos as undisciplined and unprofessional, in contravention of the Police Social Media Policy, with acts glorifying ill-gotten wealth and ill-morals, which has received wide condemnation from members of the public.”
