Why IGP Abba was removed
INSPECTOR GENERAL of Police (IGP), Alhaji Suleiman Abba, a former Aide-De-Camp (ADC) to the wife of a former military Head of State, Mrs Maryam Abacha, was sacked four years before he attained the formal retirement age of service.
The 17th indigenous IG had enlisted in the Nigerian Police as Cadet Inspector on December 31, 1984 and was due for formal retirement on March 22, 2019.
Though no official reason was given for his sudden sack, sources in the Presidency told The Guardian that Abba has been conducting himself in ways unbecoming of a professional policeman by allegedly, lobbying for his continuity in office after May 29, 2015.
Specifically, Abba allegedly took steps perceived to have negatively affected his relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan and placed a big question mark on his loyalty.
Sources also revealed that Jonathan is quite outraged that the former Inspector General of Police was partisan, as he did not wait for the change of government on May 29, 2015 before changing his allegiance.
Specifically, it was alleged that he was already working with some ‘hawkish’ leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to execute their agenda.
The Presidency was said to be at a loss why Abba not only showed up on April 1, 2015 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, at an event where President-elect, Major-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), received his certificate of return, but in addition, had reportedly been going to the airport to welcome Buhari on his journeys from Daura, Katsina State to Abuja since his election as President.
The same sources also indicated that Jonathan was in a killer mood, which was manifested during the visit of the Ghanaian President, Mr. J
John Mahama, yesterday, when only one speaking dais was on display as against the usual two.
Even during Mahama’s statement to the media, Jonathan stood apart.
After Jonathan had walked Mahama to his vehicle, he went back to his office alone, his face grim.
The usual smiles were gone, there was no acknowledgement of greetings, unlike in the past.
He didn’t talk to the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison- Madueke, her Federal Capital Territory counterpart, Senator Bala Mohammed, Minister of Foreign Affairs II, Musiliu Obanikoro and that of Youth Development (Boni Haruna) who were standing by.
The ministers read his foul mood and left immediately. None followed him to his office as was customary.
After the President had gone up to his office, one of his aides called Presidential Spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati to say that Jonathan wanted to see him.
Not long after, the press statement announcing Abba’s sack was released.
The terse statement on Abba’s sack also announced Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCID), Solomon Arase as the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), a development that caused not a little disquiet at the Force Headquarters.
Activities at the Louis Edet House ground to a near-halt when the news came confirming that Abba had been sacked.
A press briefing by the Police Commissioner (CP) in-charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Wilson Inalegwu, which had been scheduled earlier was cancelled.
At the Force Headquarters, though the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, an Acting CP told The Guardian he was “yet to hear of any such news” when confirmation was sought from him, one could deduce from the terse tone of his voice, that something was amiss.
Abba, who took over from Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar on August 1, 2014 joins the list of IGPs, who did not serve up to a year before their removal.
Abba, who hails from Gwaram Local Council of Jigawa State, is an alumnus of the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS) Kuru. He holds Bachelors degrees in History and Law, and has attended several management and security courses within and outside Nigeria.
He is known for his vast experience in criminal investigation, intelligence-led policing and crime-fighting operations. Before his appointment as the IGP, he was the head of the Police Committee, vested with the responsibility to plan for the security of the 2015 general elections.
He had served as the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Deputy Force Secretary, Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of State CID, FCT Police Command, and before his appointment, the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) in-charge of Zone 7, Abuja.
Arase was born in Sapele Delta State on June 21, 1956 but hails from Oredo Local Council of Edo State. He enlisted in the Nigerian Police December 1, 1981.
He graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1980, with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Political Science, got a Masters Degree from the University of Benin in 1998, did his Barrister at Law (BL) qualification certificate in 2001 and another LL.M in Corporate Management and Finance Law in 2004.
Also, he is a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence College (fdc). He has travelled to and studied in many countries, including the National Executive Session on Policing and Public Safety at Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA in 2011 and 2013. He attended the workshop on Identifying Key Needs and Developing Training Best Practices on Counter Terrorism in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, with focus on Counter-Terrorism, Rule of Law and National Security Management.
He served as the DCP, State CID, Panti-Yaba, Lagos between 2009- 2011, CP in Akwa Ibom State Command, between August 2011 and March 2012, Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Force Intelligence Bureau at the FHQ, Abuja from March 2012 to August 2014. He is married with children.
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18 Comments
The sack of IGP Abba at this period makes no sense at all.Jonathan should face the business of parking out of Asorok and stop making full of him self. is he waking up now or what? maybe he wants to make us believe he is in charge. pls Mr President hope your hand over note is ready?
He does not need to make us believe he is in charge because like it or not He is still in Charge, No country or state is governed by a President-elect or governor-elect, those of you in a hurry are just being ridiculous. President Jonathan appointed the man anyway and elevated him from the rank of an AIG to IGP, if the President now chooses to call it quits, then, good luck to Abba
The president did the right thing.
yeah exactly, but at the wrong time.
Timothy your statement to the President of the Federal Republic is repulsive. Governments come at a certain date and expire at another, besides there is machinery of Government. That a new Government is taking over on May 29th does not mean that the previous Government should grind to a halt in April. If it does you wont have the freedom to write this nonsense.
Mr Timothy, your comment only made you look very irresponsible and shows your lack of regard to the Constitution of the Federal Republic and Nigeria. Be informed that by virtue of the Constitution, President Jonathan remains president until the president-elect is sworn in on May 39, 2015; and he (Jonathan) will continue to run the affairs of state till then.
So be encouraged; and write wisely.
It is unfortunate that GEJ understood Abba very late. In my posts during the House of Representatives saga, I called for his immediate sack because what he displayed proved him incapable of leading the black souls. He proved himself a partisan Police Boss. But not too long he was confirmed. He lost his credibility since and I told him that He would eventually regret his actions. Today, though not the opportune time for this,GEJ has just woken up to reality having used him and now dumped. It is a pity! Watch out as He opens his mouth wide to reveal all the dirty games he was forced to do for GEJ. He did not display professionalism from the beginning of his IGP career.
You are right.
You are very correct. You can eat your cake and have it too.
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A country has only one president at one time. A lesson. Don’t go laying the machinery of state at the feet of every victorious party before its time. Arase joined the force in 1981 so is due for retire soon . This means Jonathan did not intend to poison the well for Buhari but to make it clear that people in government’s sensitive positions don’t take meekness for stupidity.
As long as institutions in Nigeria do Not work within the frame work upon which they were established, there will always be problems. No Nigerian administrator has followed the operational guide lines and dammed the consequences. As long as you compromise for whatever reasons the institution is dead. Of course, it is a known fact that Nigerians, no matter where he or she comes from switches views like changing dippers. No Nigerian leader or head of anything has gone to court when sacked to defend his/her action based on written operational guide lines. Because all of them have compromised some where along the line. And this is the case with the sacked IG.
The whole security apparatus in Nigeria is compounded by systemic failure, begging for an urgent reorganization with proper reform in place of what currently exist. All security organizations which are supported by the tax payers do not serve the interest of the ordinary Nigerian. Instead they cater to the wimps of the ruling party and its interest. IGP Abba and all other past/future IGP are/will be caught in the middle between loyalty to presidency/party or serving the tax payers who pays their wages.
While Abba is simply looking out for himself in light of the present circumstances, he has proven to be a very un-clever tactician. He has only proven to be a chameleon ready to sell his soul to the highest bidder at a moment’s notice in the eyes of the out and incoming administration, and most importantly in the eyes of the general public. ABBA’s activities right from the start is one that is unbecoming of an officer sworn to serve the people and only but the people.He lacks integrity, more so as a lawyer. He has now set fire on both ends of the bridge and no where to run to, and that’s DEE TRUUTH.
Don’t you worry Bro Abba, you are on temporary leave. The Lord will restore all that has been lost/stolen by people who are vindictive. As the head of the police, Abba did nothing wrong in ensuring that both the outgoing and the certified in-coming Presidents’ interests are protected. Is it not also wrong then for President Jonathan to even interact with Buhari if you say Abba did it wrongly. Let us be cautious of what we do under annoyance and ask ‘ What if I am in his/her shoes, would I have done same?’ You want to ruin someone’s carrier because he cares for in-coming President ! Too bad.
No, abba got it wrong. As an IGP we all knows he occupies a very fluid position. He was an AIG when. GEJ kicked out all DIG and eliminated four senior AIG yo make abba the IGP. I guess he took his favour too far. When God makes a way for you realise. HE does so through humans. All Abba needs do his remain intact with the out going Presisent. No need going to queue at the airport to welcome GMB that was very wrong. If I were in his shoes I do detail any of the AIG to do that? Simple. Abandoning G eJ to go stand at Abuja awaiting GMB who was on his private trips to and from daura was tactically faulty. I appreciate the fact that Abba needed to show GMB that he too is loyal but tracts call s for caution. He was carried away.
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QUESTION: SHOULD A POLICE OFFICER LIKE THE IG BE LOYAL TO A PRESIDENT OR TO THE NATION? A LOYAL POLICEMAN IS ONE WHO UPHOLDS THE CONSTITUTION OF NIGERIA AND NOT THE WHIMS OF A PRESIDENT. MANY PUBLIC SERVANTS GET THIS WRONG IN NIGERIA. I DO NOT FEEL SORRY FOR ABBA, BUT MR PRESIDENT IS ALSO JUST BEING VINDICTIVE FOR LOSING OUT IN THIS ‘LOYALTY’ GAME
this is the result of eye and lip service for you. former IGP Abba was used to search the car of a number 4 citizen of this country (the speaker), the same man was used to disgrace the national assembly members and blatantly refused to recognize the leadership of Tambawa. The evil that men do is leaving after them. The day of reckoning is here. Abba can you now see yourself, you have no where to run to (GMB or GEJ). This is a very serious lesson for men of understanding.
We will review and take appropriate action.