Police Commission congratulates him
By Abullahi M. Gulloma and Chizoba Ogbeche, Abuja
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday approved the appointment of AIG Suleiman Abba as the acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
His appointment takes effect from today, Friday, August 1, 2014, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said in a statement yesterday.
Until his recent appointment, Abba was an Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7, comprising Abuja, Kaduna and Niger states.
He replaced Mohammed D. Abubakar, who proceeds on statutory retirement yesterday, having completed 35 years in service.
Abubakar was appointed the 16th indigenous IGP in January 2012.
The incoming Inspector-General, a lawyer, hails from Jigawa state and is an alumnus of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).
He had at different times served as the Commissioner of Police in charge Rivers state, Deputy Force Secretary, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Deputy Force Secretary), and Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), FCT Police Command, among others.
He was also ADC to Mrs. Abacha during the regime of the late General Sani Abacha.
In a related development, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday had a closed-door meeting with the outgoing Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Dahiru Abubakar, including AIG Suleiman Abba and other top police officers at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Abba, an Assistant Inspector General in charge of Zone 7, is believed to have been penciled to take over from Abubakar, who attained the 35 years in service.
Chairman of the Police Service Commission and former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, was also at the State House yesterday. Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Abba said: “Nothing has been done yet. I don’t want to jump the gun.”
On his part, Abubakar told journalists that his successor has the requisite experience to lead the Nigeria Police Force.
He said he was proud of the 35 years he served the country as a police officer.
Meanwhile, Mr Okiro yesterday congratulated Abba on his appointment.
In a statement signed by the commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Ferdinand Ekpe, Okiro tasked Abba on tackling the security challenges facing the country.
The statement said: “Okiro, while congratulating the new Inspector- General of Police, advised him to rise up to the challenges of his new appointment.
“He noted that as a tested officer who had held various command positions in the Nigeria Police Force, that he has no doubt he would bring new perspectives in the search for solutions to the security threats confronting the nation.”