Barring any last change of plan, the Federal Government is expected to announce Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 7, Mr. Suleiman Abba, as a replacement for Mohammed Abubakar, the Inspector-General of Police, whose tenure ended on July 30, 2014.

Findings indicated that President Goodluck Jonathan had already conveyed to Abba the news of his appointment as the next IG, following his selection by the Police Council made up of the 36 state governors and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mike Okiro.

A source in the Presidency said, “Abba would be announced any moment from now as the next IG; in fact, the appointment has been confirmed to him personally, all we are waiting for is the official announcement by the President which may be made after the FEC meeting on Wednesday.”

Abubakar, from Zamfara State, enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on July 30, 1979 and was due for retirement on July 30, 2014, based on the mandatory retirement age.

Abubakar, who had attained the mandatory 35 years in service, had been expected to proceed on terminal leave early in the month, but he had clung on, hoping his tenure would be extended.

The PUNCH had exclusively reported that Abubakar would not be granted an extension in spite of his relative achievements in the Force and efforts by Vice President Namadi Sambo, to persuade President Jonathan to extend his tenure till 2015.

The appointment of Abba as the next IG seems to have put paid to Sambo’s alleged promise and assurances to Abubakar and his dream of staying in office till after the general elections.

Investigations showed that it was only the tenure of former IG Sunday Ehindero that was extended by one year by the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo.

Abba, whose appointment may be announced on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting, had served as the Commissioner of Police in charge of Rivers State; Deputy Force Secretary and Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of State CID, FCT Police Command.