The Police Service Commission (PSC) has submitted the files of two Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs), two Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) and a Commissioner of Police (CP) to the President to enable him make a choice for the replacement of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar, who is retiring.
Abubakar is due for retirement on July 31 and will proceed on retirement on that date and hand over to the most senior officer, if the President refuses to extend his tenure before that day.
A source told our correspondent in Abuja that “If the President does not announce Abubakar’s tenure extension before July 31, he will proceed on retirement. This is because that is his terminal date in the police. If it happens that a new IGP is not appointed, he will hand over to the most senior officer, that is the DIG ‘A’ Department.
“He (Abubakar) cannot stay a day beyond July 31, unless his tenure is extended. This is because all his course mates would retire on that day. In fact, about 60 senior officers are retiring this July.”
It was also learnt that if the President is really interested in the tenure extension of the IGP, he would not have requested from the PSC the files of those considered qualified for the job.
Among the DIGs being considered, one from the South-south would be retiring next year, it was learnt, while the other from the Northwest has about seven years to stay in service.
However, sources said that the DIG from the South-south may not be favoured because the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, is from that zone, the choice which the source said may mess things up for the President. Besides, he is said to be a loyalist of a former military leader from the North.
Of the two shortlisted AIGs, one is highly educated and a respected detective, who was a Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to three former IGPs. Although he is from Edo State, the South south, he is believed to be highly favoured among those shortlisted.
The other AIG, it was learnt, is from Niger State in the North central and was a Commissioner of Police in Rivers State and was in Lagos State as the supervising CP during 2007 elections.
The sources said the only police commissioner on the list is a former controversial Rivers State police chief, Joseph Mbu.
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