Pascal Arogorn Ibe
The Commissioner of Police for Ekiti State Command, Mr Tunde Mobayo, said on Thursday that the Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, could review the case of a Police Constable, Miss Omolola Olajide , who was dismissed after getting pregnant which allegedly violates the rules and regulations of the police.
Mobayo said Olajide violated Section 127 of the police regulation which stipulated serious punitive measures against flouters.
He said the rules and regulations require a female police officer to undergo post-training experience on the field for at least two years before marriage and three years before childbearing .
The policewoman attached to the Iye Ekiti Police Station in Ilejemeje area of Ekiti State , who joined the service in May 2020, was dismissed by the police for getting pregnant less than a year after graduating from the police academy.
Mobayo, who spoke to journalists in Ado Ekiti , the Ekiti State capital, said , “ Section 126 of the regulation stated that a married policewoman who is pregnant may be granted maternity leave , while Section 127 said an unmarried policewoman who becomes pregnant shall be discharged from the Force and shall not be enlisted except with the approval of the IGP . ”
The Commissioner said , “ In police organisation , we have rules and regulations, which are being carried out within the ambit of the constitution . The police officers are not even allowed to keep their children who are above 18 years of age in the barracks. Some of these laws were taught in the police colleges before we graduated .
“ These laws have been there . Some stipulated the number of years you must spend before you get married . If you are in police college , you are not supposed to get pregnant . When you pass out , you still need basic training . You must spend a certain minimum of period before you get married for you to perform efficiently .
“ The lady in question passed out May 2020, which is eight months ago and now she is with six months pregnancy . The Police Act 2020, which is undergoing amendment in the Senate has not repealed that . She had contravened Section 127 of the police regulation.
“ The amendment being sought has not been done neither had the bill gotten presidential assent . It has just been referred to the Senate Committee on Police Affairs for further scrutiny . Aside from the foregoing , the amended Police Act is different from police regulation.
“ I felt for that lady , though I never saw her before. We saw the medical report and we did due diligence on her case . We can’ t shy away from the oath of office we took , but the IGP can still reverse whatever we do on the field , ” the Commissioner said .
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