Jonathan sacks IG of Police, Suleiman Abba; appoints replacement

President Goodluck Jonathan  has fired Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba.

The sack was announced by the president’s spokesperson, Reuben Abati, in a statement on Tuesday.

No reason was given for the sack.

A Deputy Inspector General of police, Solomon Arase, was appointed to act in his stead.

Mr. Abba’s removal and the assumption of office of his replacement are with immediate effect.

Mr. Abati’s statement read in full, “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 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.

Mr. 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 a former 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 Nigerian police as cadet inspector on December 31, 1984 and is actually due for retirement on March 22, 2019.

Read more about Mr. Abba’s era as Police IG below:

Suleiman Abba and the Making of a Partisan Police, By Femi Falana

Nigeria Police As An Institution Of Regression, By Emmanuel Onwubiko