Senate orders reinstatement, promotion of policeman suspended for 21 years

The Senate has directed the Nigerian Police Force to reinstate a dismissed Sergeant, Amos Olaniyan, who was suspended for 21 years over alleged involvement in a bribery case.

The upper chamber told the police authorities to ensure that payment of all dues owed to Olaniyan for the 21 years, which include promotion and formal apology from the force.

This follows the petition presented by Senator Solomon Adeola (Lagos West) on October 6, 2015 on behalf of the Sergeant, who is one of his constituents.

After investigating Olaniyan's suspension from the force, the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition led by Senator Sam Anyanwu recommended that the officer be reinstated and compensated.

The two recommendations of the committee adopted by the Senate were: “That the officer Sergeant Amos Olaniyan be fully re-integrated into the Police Force with a letter of reinstatement and apology” and “That all his dues including promotions and entitlements be fully granted and paid”

It was gathered that Olaniyan was verbally suspended in 1994 on a baseless allegation of bribery which an Orderly Room Trail discharged and acquitted him but the Police refused to recall him.

“I was greatly disturbed when I saw his petition as I did not believe this could happen to any citizen of Nigeria. This was after he had written petitions to previous Inspector Generals of Police and the Police Service Commission and even late President Umaru Yar’adua to no avail”, Senator Adeola reacted to the development in a statement made available to Pulse by his spokesman, Chief Kayode Odunaro.

According to the Senate, Olaniyan's reinstatement and payment of his dues is with immediate effect.