Lagos-The Commandant, Nigeria Police College Ikeja, Mr Abdullahi Magaji, on Sunday said police trainees with questionable character would no longer be allowed to pass out of the institution.

Magaji in Lagos said that eight of the 1,074 cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police specialists were disallowed from graduating at the passing out ceremony in early February for various offences.

He said the days of people of questionable character coming to the college for training and were allowed to pass out with their bad characters were over.

“Any trainee that did not follow the rules and regulations, pass the examination, failed to participate in the college activities or come into the college through the backdoor will be dismissed.

“Any trainee, who is undisciplined, no matter the rank, will not be spared. No person of questionable character will be allowed to pass out of this school,” Magaji warned.

According to the Commandant, there is no other place to begin the reformation in the Nigeria Police than the police training schools.

On corruption, the Commandant referred officers to a circular by the Inspector-General of Police warning them against corruption.

“The College gives free accommodation, education and allowances are paid to the trainees’ individual bank accounts,” the Commandant said.

Magaji said he had queried some officers over corrupt practice and warned that any one who collected money from anybody would be punished.

He said the institution had stopped all social activities by civilians for security reasons, to create conducive learning environment for the trainees.

Also the Nigeria Police have embarked on an extensive renovation of the Police College Ikeja,  to improve the training facilities at the institution, its Commandant, Mr Abdullahi Magaji, has said.

Magaji, said that the contractors handling the project had commenced the work in different parts of the college.

The Commandant said the renovation included the rehabilitation of dilapidated classrooms and hostels, tarring of roads, reconstruction of the fence, swimming pool and the provision of furniture.

“The renovation of the swimming pool is almost completed. We are currently fencing it round, all the roads in the college will be tarred,”  Magaji said.

According to him, the Olympic-size swimming pool has been abandoned 25 years ago.

“We will name the swimming pool after the Inspector-General of Police because the facility was being brought back to life during his tenure,” he added.

Magaji said the renovation would have positive impact on the police officers passing out of the college.

He promised to stamp out reported cases of corruption in the college. (NAN