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By Adewale Sanyaolu
The continued deployment of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Yakubu Bello, as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has raised questions over the propriety of the assignment following his promotion to the rank of ACP.
The Concerned Police Force Community, in a statement issued on Sunday by Alhaji Sadiq Gambo, urged the appropriate authorities to clarify whether Bello’s continued deployment as ADC is consistent with his current rank and responsibilities.
Bello was promoted to ACP in June 2025.
The group said the promotion had raised questions about whether an officer who has attained a command-level rank should continue in an appointment traditionally associated with lower-ranking officers.
“The issue is not necessarily about the personality of the officer involved, but about whether an officer who has attained the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police should continue to occupy a position traditionally designated for a lower-ranking officer,” it said.
It argued that discipline, hierarchy and adherence to regulations were central to professional policing, stressing that the Nigeria Police Force should apply internally the same standards of lawful procedure it expects from the public.
According to the group, an ACP ordinarily performs command-level duties and may be deployed to head a police area, formation, department or specialised unit, depending on the operational needs of the Force.
It therefore called for clarification on whether existing police regulations prescribe a maximum rank for officers serving as ADCs and whether any directive was issued for Bello to relinquish the position after his promotion.
“If there is indeed a directive requiring Bello to relinquish the ADC appointment following his promotion, the appropriate authorities would need to clarify whether such directive exists, the basis for it and whether it has been complied with,” the statement said.
The group stressed that the issue went beyond Bello’s individual posting, arguing that the credibility of the police institution depended on its adherence to established rules.
“For an institution entrusted with maintaining law and order, adherence to its own rules should be regarded as an essential component of professionalism,” it said.
The group also drew attention to recent questions surrounding the proposed promotion of President Bola Tinubu’s ADC, Colonel Nurudeen Yusuf, to Brigadier General, saying it raised a broader question about whether an officer’s rank should affect continued service as an ADC.
It, however, acknowledged that the police and military operate under different laws, structures and traditions, and that practices applicable to one institution cannot automatically be applied to the other.
“Rank is not merely any honorific designation. It carries responsibilities, authority and expectations,” the group said.
It urged the relevant authorities to clarify whether Bello’s continued assignment as ADC to the First Lady complies with applicable police regulations and professional practice, saying transparency would help dispel concerns and strengthen public confidence in the Force.
