Nigerian-born British police officer Khafi Kareem is being investigated for taking part in Nigerian reality TV show Big Brother Naija without permission.
According to the Metropolitan Police in London, Kareem was granted unpaid leave for an unrelated reason but was not granted permission to be on the show.
It said in a statement: “The Met is aware that the officer has since appeared on the show without authority. The Met does not support the officer’s appearance nor does she represent the Met whilst appearing on the show.”
Kareem is now the subject of an inquiry by the force’s Directorate of Professional Standards. “Any officer found to have breached police standards of professional behaviour could face misconduct proceedings,” the force added.
Her romantic relationship with fellow contestant Ekpata Gedoni in the Big Brother house has raised eyebrows.
Television channel Africa Magic said: “Police officer Khafi Kareem believes that you can have it all if you believe in yourself.
“She is not only hoping to win the prize money but she wants the exposure that being in Big Brother Naija House brings so that she can do societal good.
“What people don’t know about her is that she is secretly talented in spoken word, singing and dancing. She is an Ekiti native who resides in London.”
Kareem has previously appeared as a poster girl for the Met alongside commissioner Cressida Dick to encourage black and female recruitment and celebrate 100 years of women in the force.
A Met source said: “She’s a serving British police officer – it’s outrageous. She asked permission to go on the show but, when her request was refused, she went anyway. Her out-of-office email reply blatantly says that she is away from work, yet no one does anything.
“Other officers working with her are furious that she can just disobey orders then swan off Africa and tarnish the reputation of the force.”
Kareem started as a PC in the London borough of Lambeth in 2015 after four years as a part-time special constable.
Another Met spokesman said: “All officers have a duty to behave with professionalism and in a manner that does not bring the Met into disrepute whether on or off duty.”
tagged in: Africa Magic, BBNaija, Big Brother Naija, Khafi Kareem