Another Nigerian Public Officer Disgraced In Office

When the last is yet to be heard on Hon Alex Ikwechegh, over alleged abuse of a bolt driver, another Nigerian public officer is in the news for the bad reason.

While the House of Representatives member, was docked this morning over alleged abuse of a bolt driver, Shola Balogun, a Nigerian-British officer from Bromley Police Station, has just been dismissed by the Metropolitan Police Service in the UK.

He allegedly, at a birthday party, in Bexleyheath, Kent bite a colleague.

Though the incident occurred on April 22, 2022, during a 40th birthday celebration attended by around 70 people at Goals Sports Bar, the hearing took place from October 21 to 23, 2024.

The hearing was chaired by high-ranking officer Christopher McKay, with panel members IPM Amanda

Reports quoting hearing document, said Balogun and the victim, both stationed at Bromley Police Station, had previously engaged in light-hearted horseplay and maintained a friendly working relationship.

However, during the party, it didn’t seem both men have totally forgotten their earlier issues.

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They engaged in an altercation and Balogun allegedly grabbed the victim’s glasses and then bit him on the face.

When the matter was tabled before the panel, Balogun denied biting the victim and claimed that removing the glasses was accidental.

On the other hand, medical reports confirmed that the victim actually sustained a bite wound.

Armed with this, the panel ruled that the actions of Balogun, the Nigerian public officer in the UK, violated police standards, particularly the Discreditable Conduct section of the College of Policing Code of Ethics, which stresses the importance of maintaining public confidence.

The Nigerian did receive positive character references from colleagues, including his inspector, but the panel refused to be impressed.

It held that Balogun’s prior disciplinary history and the severity of the incident justified his dismissal without notice.

“The only appropriate and proportionate outcome in this case is Dismissal Without Notice.

“The Panel bears in mind the words of Lord Justice Maurice Kay in the well-known case of Salter v Chief Constable of Dorset [2012] EWCA Civ 1047 when he said, ”As to personal mitigation, just as an unexpectedly errant solicitor can usually refer to an unblemished past and the esteem of his colleagues, so will a police officer often be able so to do.

“However, because of the importance of public confidence, the potential of such mitigation is necessarily limited.

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In the present case, PC Balogun does not have an unblemished past and the previous misconduct proved against him is serious.

“In the present case, he committed a deliberate assault on a colleague without any explanation or justification.

“He humiliated PC Final Written Warning is not appropriate in this case. The only appropriate and proportionate outcome in this case is Dismissal Without Notice.”