Panic Grips Cops Over Certificate Verification

The Lagos State Police Command has commenced verification of certificates of its men and officers. This has reportedly caused panic among policemen in all police formations in the state.

P.M.NEWS gathered that the verification exercise was ordered by the Inspector-General of Police, M.D. Abubakar.

The IGP, it was learnt, directed police commands throughout the country to verify and authenticate the certificates of all policemen in the country.

“Those who have no certificate to show will not only be dismissed, they will also be prosecuted,” a police source disclosed.

Investigations also revealed that the directive was issued following allegations that some officers used fake certificates for enlistment into the Force.

“The IGP ordered that every officer must appear in person and present his or her certificate for verification and authentication,” the source revealed.

P.M.NEWS gathered that the screening exercise has caused apprehension among policemen who enlisted in the Force using fake certificates. Some of the affected policemen were said to have used their brother’s or relative’s certificates to join the Police. These policemen, it was learnt, are afraid of being exposed because the owners of the original certificates have collected them.

The source revealed further that those with fake certificates will lose their jobs and face prosecution.

Following the exercise, some officers have reportedly abandoned their duty posts to look for documents to present to the authorities.

Investigation revealed further that some policemen have even lost their certifcates, while some do not have certificates to present.

P.M.NEWS also gathered that those who have lost their certificates have been visiting the offices of WAEC and NECO at Yaba and Ilupeju respectively, to obtain statements of result.

The police source also disclosed that officers who presented photocopies of results were asked to go and bring the originals. These set of officers were said to be those who used the certificates of their relatives to enlist in the Force.

Many police officers who spoke with P.M.NEWS on condition of anonymity, expressed satisfaction with the exercise, saying it was a welcome development.

One senior officer told our correspondent that some officers got recruited with another person’s certificate, explaining that in some cases, a different name will be in the police file, while such an officer will be answering another name at the station.

Another officer disclosed that if the verification was properly carried out, many policemen will go to jail for using forged certificates.

This he attributed to the fact that most policemen did not complete their secondary education, but forged WAEC and NECO certificates to enrol in the Police.

He also revealed that some obtained fake degree certificates and were promoted to senior positions, but one can easily judge them through their performance.

Confirming the certificate screening exercise to P.M.NEWS, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said that it was on going in all police commands accross the federation, adding that there should be no panic over it.

—Cyriacus Izuekwe