Retiring Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, on Monday, met with senior police officers at the Louis Edet House, headquarters of the police in Abuja, and briefed them over the intricate succession crisis.
Adamu, who was officially due for retirement on Monday, did not hand over the reins of leadership as of the time of filing this report last night.
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Daily Trust reported on Monday that Adamu is unlikely to get extension for the job, despite his lobby as the President Buhari was said to be perusing a shortlist.
Amidst the confusion, the Presidency, on Monday, assured that there would not be a vacuum in the position.
A spokesperson for President Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu, who gave the assurance, however, did not say when a decision will be taken by the president.
Lawyers last night differ on the IG’s last-minute in the Force, with some insisting that he ought not to work on Monday while others said he had until the end of Monday as his last day.
But checks by Daily Trust showed that a number of Adamu’s course mates who retired on Monday did not attend to official duties.
Some of them stayed away from their offices. However, those of them in Abuja were summoned to attend the briefing with the IGP.
Reliable sources told Daily Trust that the IGP reported to the office late in the morning and also presided over a short meeting with members of the police management team and other senior officials.
A source confided in Daily Trust that Adamu allayed fears of the senior police officers and informed them that “regimented order” will be followed in the event there was no communication from the presidency.
This means the IGP will hand over to the most senior police officer.
The lot may fall on DIG Sanusi Lemu, the deputy inspector general of police in charge of department of operations, as the most senior officer.
Earlier in the day, a Daily Trust reporter, who visited the Force headquarters, reported that there was confusion among officers and men who were anxious for the next line of action.
Some officers of the Force, while discussing the issue around the main entrance of the building, said there would be constitutional crisis if the present occupant stayed beyond midnight.
A police sergeant, who was at the premises, said, “By now, we are supposed to have known our new boss instead of keeping us waiting for nothing. I pray the next administration favours us.”
Another officer said: “Presidency should please stop keeping us in suspense.
“Though I know some of our Ogas know the new IGP, they should make the announcement quickly.”
Efforts to get reactions from spokesperson of the force, Frank Mba, were unsuccessful as calls to his mobile phone were rejected.
Speaking earlier in the day on Channels Television’s morning show ‘Sunrise Daily’, Presidential spokesman Shehu said he was not aware of the planned announcement of a new IG.
According to him, no date was slated for the announcement, insisting that there would be no vacuum in the leadership of the force.
“The President returns to Abuja on Tuesday from his trip.
“He should be on his desk by Wednesday. I don’t know when he will do this.
“One thing I can assure you is that in places sensitive like that, there is no vacuum that will subsist, so the system will take care of itself.”
Shehu dismissed insinuations from various quarters that the next appointment would be based on ethnicity.
He stated: “The President will rather have an Inspector-General of Police who will make you and I safer, protect life and property than one who is more pronounced by his tribal marks.”
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