The Police Service Commission (PSC) has restored the rank of the late police spokesman, Haz Iwendi leaving out former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and others who suffered similar fate.

Iwendi's rank as commissioner of police was removed from him after his death when the commission demoted 140 senior police officers including Nuhu Ribadu.

There have been mixed reactions to the demotions by the commission which said the promotions were done without its consent. But the Presidency had gone ahead to confirm the demotion exercise.

But the Commission, yesterday in a statement issued by its Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Commission, Garba Buwai announced a posthumous promotion of the late Commissioner of Police (CP), Kaduna State, Mr. Haz Iwendi to the rank of Commissioner of Police.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has also approved the promotion of 13 Deputy Commissioners of police to the substantive rank of commissioners of police.

He said, "The Commission also reconsidered, reviewed and approved posthumously the promotion of late Hyacinth Iwendi to the rank of Commissioner of Police."

According to him, three Assistant Commissioners of Police are also promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioners of Police.

The Commission during the exercise has also approved the promotion of 95 Chief Superintendents of Police to Assistant Commissioners of Police, 590 Superintendents of Police to Chief Superintendents of Police, and 681 Deputy Superintendents of Police to Superintendents of Police as well as 1,468 Assistant Superintendents of Police to Deputy Superintendents of Police.

On Tuesday, August 5 2008, the Police Service Commission announced the demotion of the former Chairman EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, from the rank of an Assistant Inspector_General of Police to Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Others also demoted from the rank of commissioners to deputy commissioners were the late Iwendi, Mr. Solomon Arase, Mr. Amodu Ali, Mr. Columbus Okaro, Mr. Olayinka Balogun, and Mr. Adebayo Ajileye. Iwendi, a former Force Public Relations Officer, was until his death on May 5, 2008, the Commissioner, Kaduna State Police Command. Okaro, it was later learnt, was due for retirement this October.

Nine Deputy Commissioners of Police were also demoted to Assistant Commissioners of Police; eight ACPs to Chief Superintendents of Police; 11 CSPs to Superintendents; 13 SPs demoted to Deputy Superintendents of Police; and 29 DSPs to Assistant Superintendents of Police.

Sixty three ASPs were demoted to Inspectors.

Ribadu, who was sent to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies on a mandatory course following his controversial exit as head of the EFCC, was a Deputy Commissioner of Police when he was appointed the EFCC chairman in 2003.

In December 2006, he was elevated to the post of Commissioner of Police alongside Iwendi. But four months after, Ribadu was promoted again to the level of AIG.

Ribadu's demotion and the others were contained in a statement by the PSC Chairman, Mr. Parry Osayande, on Tuesday. The PSC the statement said the decision to demote the officers was because their promotions were irregular and done without regard for the laws guiding such exercise.

Besides, it said it was imperative to preserve espirit de corps since their promotions had created disquiet within the Nigeria Police Force.

Osayande, a former DIG, said the PSC found as very disturbing, the irregular promotion of 140 officers without due recourse to the PSC which had the statutory responsibility to do so.

The statement read in part: "The commission notes that the special promotion was not based on the established criteria and was a total breach of Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution and the Police Service Commission Act of 2001.

"It has therefore been the cause of disillusionment, agitations and indiscipline within the NPF.

"Consequently, after due considerations of this administration's avowed commitment to the rule of law, and in order to guarantee a level playing field for all members of the Police Force, the commission re_examined the guidelines for promotion for all the ranks ranging from the Deputy Inspector General of Police to constable."

The PS said the guidelines for promotion included seniority, merit, minimum of three years on a rank, participation in promotion course, passing of prescribed examination and involvement in the field of selection. Other were recommendation from the Departmental Selection Board in respect of those attending Departmental Selection Board interview and good Annual Performance Evaluation Report Grading over a period of three years.

In addition, a candidate billed for promotion must not have a pending disciplinary matter, complaints or petitions of gross misconduct such as human rights violation, torture, extra judicial killing, corruption and rape. Such candidate must have passed oral interview conducted by the PSC.

The commission said special promotions must be based on exceptional performance such as acts of gallantry and bravery and not by doing normal jobs.

The PSC then directed that all those demoted should revert to their former ranks with immediate effect, promising that those that met the criteria for promotion would be considered on merit, subject to availability of vacancy and recommendation of the Inspector General of Police.

Based on the promotion guidelines, Ribadu and others were expected to wait till October I, 2008 for promotion to their next ranks. The PSC indicated that their last promotions were October 1, 2005.