The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved a special promotion for Daniel Itse Amah, the police officer, who rejected a $200,000 bribe from armed robbers.
Recall that Amah had in April 2022 handled a matter where a suspect identified as Ali Zaki arranged with armed robbers to trail and rob a Bureau D’Change operator he had met to change $750,000.
He was said to have been offered $200,000 through a bank staff to suppress the case after an investigation linked Zaki to the case. He, however, rejected the offer.
The police officer had been rewarded by the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, as well as the President Muhammadu Buhari, for his show of integrity.
Speaking during a special plenary of the commission on Thursday, the acting chairman of the PSC, Justice Clara Ogunbiyi (retd.), said although Amah had just been promoted and lately honoured, the commission was thrilled by his integrity and honesty.
She said, “Although he has been honoured by the police and the president, we decided to do it because we are so proud of what he has done. I believe the culprit would have been shocked because the generality of human nature is one that would say why would such a young man reject such a large sum of money in foreign currency.
“Also, he was recently promoted during the general promotion, but to bring to the fore that act of honesty in the force is very appreciated, and since we are empowered by the law to promote him, we decided to do this in addition to a cash reward.
“What we are doing today is unprecedented, so, other officers should know that honesty and hard work pays, and if we can do this publicly to an officer of his nature we can to any other officer.”
She said the desire of the commission was to have a corrupt-free police, warning that the PSC would not hesitate to wield the big stick on erring police officers.
The ICPC had also in October this year honoured CSP Amah with the 2022 Public Service Integrity Award.
The ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, OFR, described CSP Amah as a distinguished public servant who against all odds refused to be corrupted and compromised.
The elated Amah said he was motivated by the type of leadership provided by the IGP as well as the zeal to live a life worthy of emulation.
In an interview with journalists, Amah explained that friends and family members initially scolded him for rejecting the huge sum of money and called him different names.
He, however, said those who initially scolded him later congratulated him when the government noticed and recognized his act.
He also said, ”I must acknowledge this effort was not borne out of a lone effort. The leadership provided by the IGP made it easy for me to do this. I appreciate the PSC for the promotion and cash reward. To live a life worthy of emulation, there is nothing that can be compared to a life lived with integrity.”
CSP Amah is an indigene of Jos East, Plateau State, who joined the Nigerian Police Force as a cadet inspector in 2002.
He is currently a serving as the divisional police officer (DPO) in Bompai Police station in Nasarawa, Kano State.
