President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday sacked the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba.
Abba, who became IG less than nine months ago, was replaced by a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, in acting capacity.
A statement by Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, gave no reason for the sack of Abba.
The statement read, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has relieved the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, of his appointment and duties with immediate effect.
“President Jonathan has also appointed a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, as Acting Inspector-General of Police, also with immediate effect.
But NE's investigation revealed that the police officer, who was elevated to the post only last year, incurred the wrath of the Presidency on the eve of the governorship and House of Assembly elections for allegedly arguing with the government officials over the directive to recall the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in Charge of Zone 6, Tunde Ogunshakin, from Rivers State.
Abba, it was learnt, had deployed Ogunshakin from his base in Calabar to Port Harcourt to oversee the governorship election in Rivers State following complaints by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, that the police had collaborated with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the PDP to intimidate APC members and rig the presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.
His refusal to pick calls over Ogunshakin’s recall
Another source said the former police boss reportedly ignored presidency official’s objection to the deployment of Ogunshakin to Rivers State on the allegation that the police officer was sympathetic to Amaechi and his party and would, therefore, not allow the PDP win the state.
A Presidency source revealed that on learning that the IG had defied its order by redeploying Ogunshakin to Rivers State to supervise the governorship elections. A presidency official called the former police boss to recall the AIG with immediate effect from Rivers State or face the consequences.
The source said the presidency felt slighted when it could not get through to Abba.
The former police boss reportedly told the Presidency that AIG Ogunshakin was a formidable Police officer whom he described as a ‘no-nonsense officer’ feared and respected in the Police Force hierarchy and capable of ensuring law and order in the place of new assignment.
It was learnt that although the sacked IG reluctantly recalled Ogunshakin from Rivers State, forcing him to quit Port Harcourt by 5 am on the election day, Presidency did not forgive Abba for redeploying Ogunshakin reluctantly.
The Senior Special Adviser to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, could not also be reached for comments on the development.
Abba’s sack was announced by the president’s spokesman, Reuben Abati, in a statement yesterday. No reason was given for the sack while a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, was appointed to act in his stead.
Abati’s statement read in full: “President Goodluck Jonathan has relieved the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, of his appointment and duties with immediate effect.
“President Jonathan has also appointed Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, as Acting Inspector-General of Police, also with immediate effect.
“Until his appointment as Mr. Abba’s replacement, Mr. Arase was the Head of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department.
“Mr. Arase holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Law, as well as Bachelors and Masters degrees in Political Science and Strategic Studies.
“He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence College.”
Mr. Abba, 56, became acting Inspector General on August 1, 2014 following the retirement of his predecessor, Mohammed Abubakar, after 35 years of public service.
He was confirmed substantive IGP on November 4, 2014.
Abba was, until that appointment, an Assistant Inspector General, AIG, in charge of Zone 7 Command, a position he occupied since May 25, 2012. He was also an Aide-De-Camp, ADC, to the wife of a former military Head of State, Maryam Abacha.
With his removal, Mr. Abba will proceed on forced retirement, four years before he attains retirement age.
He enlisted in the Nigeria Police as Cadet Inspector on December 31, 1984 and is actually due for retirement on March 22, 2019.
GEJ'S government is not sincere at all.If you have given a job to a professional why interfering in order to favour your own side? His urgent congratulations to Buhari is that he knew for sure that many are against him.This is a confirmation that it was the presidency that told Sulaiman Aba to be telling us to go home after voting which can no longer wk in Nigeria.Anyway, it is all over.He also(GEJ) should go and rest in Otuoke.
ReplyDeleteI dey laugh.
ReplyDeleteThere is more to it that meets the eyes. Time will tell.
ReplyDeleteMore to come.smiling in Indian.
ReplyDeleteThe summary of the story is that Jonathan was pressured by his wife mama war to sack Abba. It's very obvious.... I see Patience hands written all over the sack
ReplyDeleteMaybe I GPS Abba should write a book. Telling us in detail what really went down.
ReplyDeleteAt least that will keep him busy with this wicked forced retirement placed on him. This people are just plain evil.
That is good for him, it is the same IGP that refused to recognize TAMBUWAL as the SPEAKER when he defeated to APC.
ReplyDeleteI like ur comment. Its just the truth
DeleteShameful administration. They should all go suck it up in their respective retirement homes.
ReplyDeleteThey are all bird of the same feder flying alike so, let them killed themselves by themselves.
ReplyDeleteNigerian police should do their job professionally or be come use and dump by politicians.
ReplyDeleteI like the drama. Abba will open up after May 29. Goodluck may also sack Mama Peace by then or she will sack Goodluck after may 29.
ReplyDeleteThe source of this information is clearly not stated,is this an allegation or its a confirmed report
ReplyDelete