The Nigeria Police Force has voiced significant concerns over the recent police constable recruitment exercise, citing allegations of corruption and irregularities.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) had published a list of successful candidates, which has now come under intense scrutiny.

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Muyiwa Adejobi, the Force spokesperson, revealed on Saturday that the police were alarmed to find discrepancies in the published list.

Names of candidates who had successfully passed the screening stages mysteriously disappeared, prompting a thorough investigation by the police authorities.

Adejobi, an assistant commissioner of police, noted that numerous complaints from candidates alleging corrupt practices in the recruitment process led to a detailed examination of the PSC’s list.

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He highlighted that the police have officially distanced themselves from the list, stating it included individuals who had failed the computer-based test (CBT), physical screening, or both. Additionally, some candidates disqualified due to medical issues were inexplicably included in the list.

“The most troubling aspect is the allegation of financial dealings and corrupt practices, which resulted in the shortlisting of unqualified and untrainable individuals,” Adejobi stated.

In response to these findings, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun sent a “letter of objection” to the PSC Chairperson on Monday.

The letter outlined the discrepancies discovered in the list, emphasizing that while the PSC has the authority to recruit for the police, this power does not extend to enlisting unqualified individuals.

Adejobi stressed that the Nigerian police, not the PSC, would ultimately suffer from the recruitment of unqualified candidates.

“The Nigeria Police Force takes exception to this unpleasant development and calls for a total review of the process to ensure the recruitment of qualified, competent, trainable, and productive individuals, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for police reform,” he said.

The police spokesperson also expressed concern for the candidates who underwent rigorous screening processes, vowing that the police would ensure a thorough review to uphold the integrity of the recruitment exercise.

The controversy highlights the ongoing challenges in reforming Nigeria’s police recruitment processes and underscores the need for transparency and accountability to build a competent and effective police force.

In a move aimed at enhancing efficiency and transparency in Nigeria’s public procurement system, President Bola Tinubu has ordered Mr. Mamman Ahmadu to resign from his position as the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

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Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, announced the directive in a statement, explaining that it is part of a broader effort to reorganize and reposition the BPP.

This reorganization aims to strengthen the agency’s capacity to oversee and regulate public procurement processes effectively.

Mr. Ahmadu has been instructed to hand over his responsibilities to the most senior officer within the Bureau until a new Director-General is appointed.

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President Tinubu expressed his gratitude to Mr. Ahmadu for his service and wished him success in his future endeavors.

The specific reasons behind the president’s directive were not disclosed.

In a related development, Ngelale also announced the appointment of Mr. Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi as the new Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

Gbeleyi is a distinguished financial expert and award-winning chartered accountant, recognized for his extensive experience and expertise in various sectors.

Mr. Gbeleyi is a fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.

He has also completed executive programs at renowned institutions such as the London Business School, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and Lagos Business School.

With over 30 years of post-qualification experience, Gbeleyi has worked across diverse industries including manufacturing, fast-moving consumer goods, banking, project finance, telecommunications, infrastructure, and public administration.

Previously, he served as the Board Chairman of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and as the Commissioner of Finance in Lagos State from 2013 to 2015.

President Tinubu expects Mr. Gbeleyi to leverage his extensive experience to reinforce the BPE’s role as a national resource center for capacity building.

The President emphasized the importance of promoting a competitive, private sector-driven economy, ensuring social accountability, and advancing effective corporate governance and fiduciary discipline in both the public and private sectors.

On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja exonerated Binance Holdings Limited executives, Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, from tax evasion charges filed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

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Justice Emeka Nwite discharged the two executives and removed their names from the four-count charge after FIRS counsel Moses Ideho submitted an amended charge listing Binance as the sole defendant.

Previously, in the amended charge filed on May 17, Binance was the first defendant, Gambaryan was the second defendant, and Anjarwalla was listed as at large.

During Friday’s hearing, Gambaryan appeared in court, while Binance’s newly appointed Nigerian representative, Ayodele Omotilewa, announced his presence.

Ideho confirmed receiving notice of Omotilewa’s appointment dated June 13, 2024, and subsequently filed a new four-count charge against Binance alone.

Ideho sought to have Omotilewa take a plea on behalf of Binance.

However, Binance’s counsel, Tonye Krukrubo, SAN, objected, arguing that Omotilewa had not been served with the amended charge and was in court for the first time.

Krukrubo contended that Omotilewa’s role was to receive legal documents, not to enter the dock, citing that he is a legal practitioner and was appointed for specific purposes.

C.J. Caleb, representing Gambaryan, supported Krukrubo’s argument, emphasizing that current legal provisions do not require a corporation’s representative to be in the dock during criminal trials.

He referenced sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) that outline the process for prosecuting corporations, which do not mandate that representatives must enter the dock.

In response, Ideho insisted that Omotilewa should be in the dock, citing Section 481 of ACJA.

However, Krukrubo and Caleb countered that the cited section did not specify this requirement.

Following the arguments, Justice Nwite directed Ideho to move forward with the amended charge filed on June 13, which the defendants’ lawyers did not oppose.

Justice Nwite granted the substitution of the amended charge and discharged Gambaryan from the proceedings.

The judge also vacated the previous order that had required Gambaryan to be served on behalf of Binance.

The court instructed the parties to submit written arguments regarding whether the company’s representative must be in the dock.

The case was adjourned until July 12 for the plea.

The amended charge, filed on June 14, 2024, with the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant and Binance Holdings Limited as the sole defendant, alleges that Binance failed to register with the FIRS for tax purposes while offering services on its platform.

This violation is punishable under the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act of 1993 (as Amended).