Case filed to stop police vetting process

BY WILFRED AYAGA

A case has been filed at the High Court to stop the ongoing police vetting process by the National Police Service Commission (NPSC).

The petitioner claims the process is riddled with irregularities and should be halted until the issues he has raised are addressed.

Emmanuel Okutoyi says the commission is conducting the exercise in disregard of the officers’ fundamental constitutional rights and is an affront to rules of natural justice. “The vetting board is concentrating on the officers’ income other than their performance,” he says.

He is accusing the commission of malice, discrimination and engaging in character assassination. He further argues that should the process proceed, the affected officers are likely to suffer irreparable damage to their reputations.

“The process is likely to achieve disastrous results for the officers being vetted, their families and the public at large,” the petitioner says.

He faults the commission for delving into the officers’ financial status and ignoring their performance and credentials. He makes reference to queries regarding the officers’ financial status, claiming that they point to an effort to ruin the officers’ standing in society.