Africa
Setting The Record Straight On ACP Benjamin Hundeyin’s Promotion -By Adewole Kehinde
Precedents further demolish Sahara Reporters’ narrative. Former FPROs such as Frank Mba, Jimoh Moshood, and Olumuyiwa Adejobi all served in line with similar rank conventions, just as comparable practices exist across other security agencies in Nigeria.
Sahara Reporters’ recent publication alleging that the promotion of the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Benjamin Hundeyin, was secretly approved by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, is not only baseless but also betrays a poor understanding of police administration and established service rules.
To begin with, the office of the Force Public Relations Officer is not an ad-hoc appointment that can be filled at whim. It is a structured position with a defined rank requirement.
By convention and regulation, whoever is appointed as FPRO must meet the prescribed minimum rank, which is Assistant Commissioner of Police. This is not new, nor is it peculiar to the present leadership of the Nigeria Police Force.
Contrary to the insinuations pushed by Sahara Reporters, the promotion of ACP Benjamin Hundeyin followed due process and was carried out strictly in line with constitutional provisions and the relevant service rules.
Promotions within the Nigeria Police Force, from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) up to Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), fall squarely under the exclusive authority of the Police Service Commission (PSC). The Inspector-General of Police has no unilateral powers to promote officers within this cadre, and any suggestion to the contrary is misleading.
Allegations of favouritism in Hundeyin’s promotion are therefore unfounded and lack factual basis. The PSC operates on clearly defined guidelines, assessment criteria, and recommendations arising from performance evaluations. These processes are transparent within the system and insulated from the kind of personal interference Sahara Reporters is attempting to suggest.
It is also important to enlighten Sahara Reporters and the general public that ACP Benjamin Hundeyin met all the eligibility requirements for the position of Force Public Relations Officer. These requirements include a minimum rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police, possession of a university degree or its equivalent, at least ten years of meritorious service, emotional stability, a clean disciplinary record, and demonstrable professional competence in public relations or broadcasting. Hundeyin’s career profile satisfies these benchmarks.
Furthermore, police regulations allow officers to be promoted ahead of schedule where their performance evaluations and official recommendations justify such advancement. This is not an anomaly but a recognised incentive mechanism within the force, designed to reward excellence, competence, and exceptional service.
All promotions remain subject to PSC guidelines, and public agitation or media pressure over service matters is expressly prohibited within the Nigeria Police Force.
The claim that IGP Kayode Egbetokun personally promoted Benjamin Hundeyin is therefore misplaced and deliberately misleading. It ignores the constitutional role of the Police Service Commission and seeks to drag the office of the Inspector-General into a controversy that does not exist.
A senior police officer familiar with internal procedures has also clarified that the office of the Force Public Relations Officer is structurally designated for an officer of at least the rank of ACP.
This structural requirement explains why officers appointed to the role are expected to either already hold that rank or be promoted in line with existing regulations to fit the office.
Precedents further demolish Sahara Reporters’ narrative. Former FPROs such as Frank Mba, Jimoh Moshood, and Olumuyiwa Adejobi all served in line with similar rank conventions, just as comparable practices exist across other security agencies in Nigeria.
In the final analysis, Sahara Reporters’ publication appears less concerned with facts and more driven by sensationalism.
The promotion of ACP Benjamin Hundeyin was lawful, procedural, and consistent with long-standing institutional practice. Anything contrary to this is a distortion of reality and an unnecessary attempt to erode public confidence in a system governed by clear rules and oversight.
Adewole Kehinde writes from Abuja. email: kennyadewole@gmail.com
