The Nigeria Police Force, Ondo State command, has demoted Inspector Moshebun Segun, AP No. 354466, to the rank of sergeant for being absent from duty for 17 days.
This decision followed a review of the orderly room proceedings by Compol DFE Akure.
Segun was found guilty of violating Paragraph 1 and 3 of the Police Act and Regulation 2020 (as amended). In addition to his demotion, he was ordered to forfeit 17 days’ pay.
Supol Ikare of Zone 17, Akure, enforced the decision, stating, “I guarantee it will not happen again. If it happens again, I will dismiss you.”
An official further stressed, “This is the last time,” reiterating the seriousness of the matter.
The disciplinary proceedings concluded with a stern reminder about the importance of discipline, with an officer saying, “I want you to do your job so when you leave this job, you don’t want to hear ‘Welcome to the Durand, Black Mubisa, Vietnam.'”
Meanwhile, a similar recent incident involved the suspension of Police Officer James Okechukwu in Lagos State for unauthorised absence and negligence in March 2024.
Okechukwu, who was stationed at the Ikeja Police Command, faced internal disciplinary actions after being absent for 12 consecutive days without approval.
Another related incident occurred in 2022 when Inspector Richard Madu of the FCT Command in Abuja was demoted for a similar violation.
Madu, who had been absent from his post for over two weeks without a valid excuse, was demoted to the rank of sergeant and also forfeited his pay for the duration of his absence.
When contacted by SaharaReporters, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami, responded that police matters were internal, saying, “I don’t know what you want to confirm there.”