Justice Clara Ogunbiyi replaces Smith as acting PSC Chairman

Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, has replaced Musiliu Smith as the acting Chairman of the Police Service Commission.

The PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, said Ogunbiyi would function in an acting capacity pending the appointment of a new Chairman by President Muhammadu Buhari.

KEMI FILANI NEWS had reported on Thursday that Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police, resigned his appointment as the PSC Chairman.

Recall that the retired IGP had been at loggerhead with the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman, over the 2022 Police recruitment exercise for 10,000 Constables into the Nigerian Police Force.

The Police Service Commission had placed an advert n a national daily for the recruitment of police constables for the year 2022, but the Nigeria Police Force asked Nigerians to disregard the advertisement and call for applications.

Recall that the retired IGP had been at loggerhead with the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman, over the 2022 Police recruitment exercise for 10,000 Constables into the Nigerian Police Force.

The Police Service Commission had placed an advert n a national daily for the recruitment of police constables for the year 2022, but the Nigeria Police Force asked Nigerians to disregard the advertisement and call for applications.

The PSC spokesman said, “His resignation which has been accepted by Mr. President takes immediate effect”.

“Alhaji Smith retired on health grounds. Following his resignation and in pursuant to Schedule 2 (4) sub-section 2 (2) of the Police Service Commission Establishment Act 2001, members of the Management of the Commission met on Wednesday, September 14th, 2022, and nominated a colleague, Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, as the acting Chairman pending the appointment of a new Chairman by Mr. President.

“Justice Ogunbiyi who was until her nomination the Commissioner 1 in the Commission and next in hierarchy to the former Chairman, expressed her appreciation to her colleagues for the confidence reposed on her and pledged to run an inclusive administration based on the rule of law.

“She said the Commission deserves the best and promised to ensure that the Management will do everything possible to give the Staff, a Commission they will be proud of. 

“We will do our best by the grace of God and I believe our best will be good enough” she noted.