The continued deployment of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Yakubu Bello, as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has come under scrutiny following his promotion to the rank of ACP.

The Concerned Police Force Community, in a statement issued on Sunday by Alhaji Sadiq Gambo, called on the relevant authorities to clarify whether Bello’s continued assignment as ADC is consistent with his current rank and responsibilities.

Bello was promoted to the rank of ACP in June 2025.

The group questioned whether an officer who has attained a command-level rank should continue to occupy a position 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,” the group said.

It stressed that discipline, hierarchy and compliance with regulations were central to professional policing, arguing that the Nigeria Police Force should uphold internally the same standards of lawful procedure expected of members of 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 requirements of the Force.

It therefore asked the police authorities to clarify whether existing regulations prescribe a maximum rank for officers serving as ADCs and whether any directive was issued for Bello to relinquish the position following 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,” it said.

The group maintained that the matter went beyond Bello’s individual posting, arguing that public confidence in the police depended on the institution’s adherence to its own rules and regulations.

“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 referenced recent questions surrounding the proposed promotion of President Bola Tinubu’s ADC, Colonel Nurudeen Yusuf, to Brigadier General, saying the development had triggered broader debate over 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, stressing that practices applicable to one institution cannot automatically be applied to the other.

“Rank is not merely an 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.