In line with the recent promotion of senior officers by the Police Service Commission (PSC), seven officers under the Zone 2 Police Command (comprising Lagos and Ogun) were decorated yesterday by the AIG of Zone 2, AIG Olatoye Durosinmi. The newly decorated officers are DCP Bayonle Kafar Suleiman; DCP Babatunde Moses Sodimu; DCP Adebisi Lawal-Balogun; and DCP Issah Lawal. Others are ACP Tony Inaboghuma, ACP Idiakheua Felicia, and ACP James Agene.
The colorful decoration ceremony which happened at the Zone 2 HQ, Onikan, Lagos had the AIG of Zone 2, AIG Olatoye Durosinmi, the CP of Lagos, CP Adegoke Fayoade, the CP of Ogun state (represented), the former CP of Lagos state, CP Fatai Owoseni (retd), family and friends of the decorated officers among others in attendance.
The AIG of Zone 2, AIG Olatoye Durosinmi charged the newly decorated officers, ‘To whom much is given, much is expected. You are in another position now, you must add more to yourself. You must demonstrate respect, you must show it wherever you go and whatever you do. You must carry your shoulder high and let the world know you are responsible officers.’
‘Nigeria expects much from us. We must continue to do our best to ensure that we supervise the men that we have been asked to supervise. You cannot take anything for granted.’
‘The President expects much from you. You are representing the IGP wherever you are. There must be adherence to the rule of law. God will bless you. God will give you wisdom to carry the position you have. May celebrations continue in our lives’, he concluded.
Expressing his excitement at the promotion, the new DCP Bayo Suleiman who is the immediate past Commander of Squadron MOPOL 20 Command, Ikeja told Trek Africa Newspaper, ‘My heart is full of gratitude and thanksgiving to God Almighty for making me reach this new height in the Nigeria Police. It is the Grace of God only that can do this.’
‘With this new height, I strengthen my resolve to continue to serve my motherland with all dedication and faithfulness. I will continue to uphold the mandate of the Nigeria Police and fulfill all policing ideals.’
The seasoned operational and intelligent Police officer, ACP Sulaiman hails from an Ibadan, Oyo state aristocratic family which easily had set him up for a successful career and entrepreneurial life. A police officer who is noted for being brainy and soft-spoken, ACP Bayo Sulaiman has a BSc in Microbiology from Ekiti State University and an MSc in Business and Public Studies from Nigeria’s premier university, University of Ibadan.
Since joining the Nigeria Police in 1996, he has attended other Police and military-related courses from the Police Mobile Force Training School; Police Staff College, Jos; and Joint Military Training, Jaji, Kaduna.
The member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), ACP Bayo Sulaiman has many awards and commendations to his name. This includes the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) award for his sterling role as a member of the Presidential Task Force for the decongestion of Apapa traffic gridlock as well as awards within and outside Lagos for his leadership of the Lagos State Task Force which spanned a decade to mention a few.
Another newly decorated officer who gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the others, DCP Babatunde Sodimu remarked: ‘On behalf of the newly decorated officers, we want to say thank You to the Almighty God, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the Minister of Police Affairs, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, our peaceful and eloquent AIG Olatoye Durosinmi, the CP of Lagos state, the CP of Ogun state, our father, CP Fatai Owoseni (retd), and other senior officers here present. It is by the Grace of God that we are here today.’
‘There is a saying that time is money and efficiency is life. We have been given the opportunity to prove our mettle as DCP and ACP. We promise to give our best. On behalf of all the officers here, we thank you all for coming and we pray that every family is blessed.’
This set of newly decorated officers are part of the 122 promotions of senior officers announced recently by the Police Service Commission.