Why Jonathan sacked IGP Abba

Abba, who joined the police force as cadet inspector in December 1984, was appointed acting Inspector General in August last year.Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, said in a statement that Abba was relieved of his appointment with immediate effect.He is replaced by Head of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department Deputy IG Solomon Arase.Mr. Arase […]

Abba, who joined the police force as cadet inspector in December 1984, was appointed acting Inspector General in August last year.
Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, said in a statement that Abba was relieved of his appointment with immediate effect.
He is replaced by Head of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department Deputy IG Solomon Arase.
Mr. Arase holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Law, as well as Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Political Science and Strategic Studies.
No reason was given for Abba’s sack, but sources said it could be a fall-out of the March 28 presidential election which Jonathan lost to retired General Muhammadu Buhari.
A Presidency source hinted that Jonathan was informed that Abba “played a game” against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the elections.
Asked to clarify what he meant by this, the source, who pleaded anonymity, simply said “betrayal”.
A media report had said weekend that powerful forces in the Presidency were pressurising Jonathan to sack Abba.
They claimed he had refused to act a script given the Police Force which could have helped the PDP during the general elections.
On Monday United States of America ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, commended the Nigerian Police for exemplary performance in providing security for the general elections.
Entwistle, who spoke during a visit to the office of the IGP at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, had noted that the police, alongside other security forces and the civil society, did a remarkable job in providing an enabling environment for the credibility of the elections.
Abba was last sighted at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa Abuja on Thursday when he attended a meeting Jonathan held with security chiefs.
Abba was once perceived to have acted the script of the Presidency when his men prevented the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, from gaining entrance into the National Assembly Complex on November 20, 2014.
Arase is the fourth Inspector-General of Police to have been appointed by President Jonathan.
The president appointed Hafiz Ringim as IGP on September 8, 2010 and asked him to proceed on terminal leave on January 25, 2012; two months before his retirement.
Mohammed Abubakar became IGP on January 25, 2012 and proceeded on statutory retirement on July 30, 2014.
Abba moves out of Force Hqtrs
Meanwhile, Abba is expected to handover to Mr. Arase this morning at Force Headquarters.
Abba’s aides were seen yesterday evacuating his personal items from his 7th floor office at Force Headquarters.
Police spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu refused to speak to reporters on Abba’s sack but Daily Trust gathered that it came as a surprise to both policemen at the Force Headquarters.
According to a source that did not want his name mentioned, the IGP was already in his office when his sack was announced.
Some sources claimed that all seemed well and the IGP was confident that he was doing his job as was professionally required so did not expect to be so unceremoniously sacked.
Also, yesterday at the offices of the newly appointed acting IGP, erstwhile DIG in charge of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID) Solomon Arase, Daily Trust observed a beehive of activities.
Both police officers and a large number of well-wishers were already gathered at the offices to congratulate the DIG on his appointment.
Born on 21 June, 1956, Arase joined the police on 1st December 1981.