IGP, others welcome Buhari back to Abuja

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, was one of the top government officials who welcomed the President Muhammadu Buhari back to Abuja on Tuesday.

There has been anxiety over Adamu’s continued presence in office after he attained 35 years in service on Monday.

On Tuesday, reports made the rounds that he had handed over to the most senior Deputy Inspector-General of Police.

But a competent police source who does not want his name in print said there was no truth in the reports.

Like on Monday, however, the IGP was said to have still reported for work at the Loius Edet House headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja.

After attending to his official duties, Adamu joined other top government officials at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja to welcome the President.

Buhari had last Friday left Abuja for his hometown, Daura, Katsina State, for what the Presidency described as a four-day official visit.

On Saturday, he revalidated his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Daura.

He was joined by 10 state governors elected on the platform of the party; the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; and a former President of the Senate, Ken Nnamani.

Apart from Adamu, the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari; and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, were among government officials who received the President at the airport.

The police source said, “There is no truth in the reports that  IGP Adamu has handed over to anybody.

“He worked throughout today (Tuesday) in his office and proceeded to the airport to receive Mr President in the evening.

“He accompanied the President to the Residential Villa, and since it was evening already, he closed for the there from there. When then did he hand over.

“If he had handed over, it just makes sense that the person he handed over to would have been the one to receive the President at the airport.”

The Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police, did not take his call on Tuesday evening when our correspondent made attempts to get his reaction.

The Presidency too has yet to issue a statement on Adamu’s fate.