By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah
The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Maria Yainkain Dumbuya has in a resignation letter addressed to the Inspector- General of Police dated 5th February this year highlighted what she described as “some unexplainable injustices” that she claimed to have been subjected to during some part of her stay in the force.
She said I was never investigated or disciplined for any professional misconduct.
According to the letter, between the periods of October last year and January 2024, she received letters and calls from the Ministry of Works, while on an official assignment with the United Nations in New York asking her to “vacate” the government quarter that was given to her in Sierra Leone, accompanied by a threat of corruption if she didn’t leave the said quarter.
In addition, the former Family Support Unit boss said the force refused to approve her extension on the secondment to the United Nations on grounds of noncompliance to the subscription of the SLP peacekeeping funds. This she said was largely due to some family matters but said she however paid the $16,000 that she owed the SLP, but that her extension request was not approved.
The ACP also noted correspondences to the current IGP’s predecessor Ambrose Michael Sovula asking for the promotion of women in the force which she said was not accepted in good faith. “Another issue that was raised with those I sent to plead on my behalf or make inquiry, was that “I have grown wings and sit in the US dictating to EMB (Executive Management Board) to give promotions to women.” who met the criteria and had applied for promotions but were not given,” the letter reads in part.
She said her early resignation was out of fear that she may be struck off strength and would affect her future employment. She highlighted the opportunities offered to her by the institution as well as her contributions during her 18 years of stay in the force.
However, the police in a press statement dated 22nd of February this year discountenanced ACP Dumbuya’s resignation, describing it as a “promulgated resignation letter addressed to the IG on Social Media”
According to the release, ACP Dumbuya was deployed on Secondment to the United Nations (UN), New York, in 2020 for two years, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) later approved her extension of Tour of Duty (TOD) for another year, noting that she spent three years throughout her mission in the UN. “This is in line with Section 17.2(2013) of the Sierra Leone Police Peacekeeping Operations policy which states that ‘Professional staff or senior officers on Secondment to the UN, AU, and the ECOWAS missions may request for further extension after one year of service,” It reads in part.
After her TOD ended on 16th January 2024, ACP Dumbuya wasn’t given another “approval of extension” due to Section 17.2, the release maintained.
It goes on to state that Dumbuya did not resume duty since the expiration of her TOD on the 16th of January 2024, adding that she went on to tender her resignation letter to the IGP which is in contravention to Rules 26(1), 34, 43 and 47 Rules of the Disciplined Regulations, 2021.
“In view thereof, you are struck-off-strength from the Sierra Leone Police with immediate effect for being absent without leave for more than 21 days contrary to Rule 26(1) of the Police Disciplined Regulations, 2001,” the release continues.
Until the standoff, ACP Dumbuya served as Officer in Transit from the Police Division of the United Nations, head of the Family Support Unit of the Sierra Leone Police, and Local Unit Commander at the Eastend Police Division among others.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (26/02/24)
