The Nigeria Police Force, on Wednesday, suspended the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) Chairperson for Edo State Police Command, Mrs. Helen Atekha Odemwingie, indefinitely.
The suspension is coming on the heels of a trending picture of the PCRC chairperson and other members at a function held at Edo State Police Command where the PCRC members wore black uniforms similar to that of the Nigeria Police Force with accompanying insignias and various inscriptions.
The act contravenes the provisions of section 214{1} of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and section 101 of the Police Act, 2020, the Acting Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in reaction to the incident.
He also noted that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc, has warned that any individual who adorns themselves illegally in Police uniforms would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
The Force equally decried the illegal use of Police uniforms, kits, and accoutrements by non-police individuals and groups.
Therefore, the IGP has ordered the Police Disciplinary Units, particularly the Force Provost Marshal, the IGP X-Squad, and Monitoring Unit, to clampdown on persons who engage in the illegal sales of police uniforms, kits, and accoutrements, outside of Police approved stores and the office of the Quartermaster.
In the same vein, the Inspector-General of Police has further directed the Force Public Relations Officer to meet and collaborate with members of the Guild of Actors in Nigeria to improve partnership to ensure proper use of police uniforms, kits, and accoutrements in their movies/skits.
