A retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Abutu Yaro has defended the promotion of the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Benjamin Hundeyin, to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), rejecting claims that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, secretly approved the advancement.
Mr Yaro said the promotion followed due process and complied with existing service rules and constitutional provisions.
He explained that the Police Service Commission (PSC) holds exclusive authority to promote officers from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) to Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG).
“The Inspector-General of Police does not have the authority to promote an Assistant Commissioner of Police. His powers are limited to promotions from constable to inspector. Promotions from ASP to DIG are handled exclusively by the Police Service Commission,” Yaro said.
He noted that ACP Hundeyin met the requirements for the FPRO role, which include holding a minimum rank of ACP, possession of a university degree or its equivalent, at least 10 years of service, a clean record and competence in public relations or broadcasting.
Yaro added that officers in the position typically receive specialised in-house training and support from media consultants.
Clarifying the broader promotion framework, Yaro said that rank-and-file officers are promoted internally based on service records, seniority, training and recommendations.
Inspectorate officers appear before an Inspectorate Selection Board.
For superior officers, promotion depends on vacancy, three-year Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER) grading, completion of courses and recommendations forwarded by the IGP to the PSC, which may accept or decline them.
Accelerated promotion is allowed under clearly defined conditions.
Yaro described Hundeyin’s elevation as an accelerated promotion that adhered to PSC guidelines.
“Promotions to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police are strictly on the PSC schedule. Any inquiry into the criteria applied should be directed to the Police Service Commission,” he said.
Another senior police officer confirmed that the FPRO role requires a minimum rank of ACP.
He explained that when an officer below the rank is appointed, promotion is effected to align the individual with the office.
The officer cited previous FPROs, including Frank Mba, Jimoh Moshood and Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who were promoted to ACP upon appointment.
The officer added that similar practices exist in other security agencies.
In the Nigerian Army, the spokesperson is typically a Colonel; in the Navy, a Captain; in the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, spokespersons are promoted to match the office rank.
Hundeyin was appointed FPRO in 2025 as a Chief Superintendent of Police, succeeding Deputy Commissioner of Police Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
His promotion to ACP was approved on the recommendation of the IGP.
Benjamin Hundeyin holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Language from Lagos State University and a Master’s degree in Legal Criminology and Security Psychology from the University of Ibadan.
He has previously served at the Lagos State Police Command, Zone 2 Command and Force Headquarters in Abuja.
