A Former justice in the supreme Court, Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi emerged as the Acting Chairman of the Police Service Commission, following the voluntary resignation of the former chairman of the commission, of Musliu Smith.
Justice Clara’s nomination was made pending the appointment of a substantive Chairman by President Muhammadu Buhari as revealed in a statement released by the Head Press and Public Relations officer of the commission, Ikechukwu Ani.
The statement read:
“The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Alhaji Musiliu Adeola Kunbi Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police has formally resigned his appointment.
“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 yesterday, 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 Commissioner 1 in the Commission and next in the hierarchy to the former Chairman expressed her appreciation to her colleagues for the confidence reposed in her and pledged to run an inclusive administration based on the rule of law.
Ani said: “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”.
The Joint Union Congress of the Commission has suspended it’s strike action to allow the new Management to look into its demands.
The present Management of the Commission was inaugurated on 25th July, 2018 and is expected to exit on 24th July, 2023.
