Update: Presidency Confirms Ringim’s Exit; All DIGs Retired

.... Special Committee Set Up To Urgently Reorganise Force With Parry Osayande As Chair; Akagbosu Included As member.

SAN FRANCISCO, January 25, (THEWILL) – President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has forced the embattled Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Hafiz Rimgim into an early retirement from his top job as chief of police, THEWILL can report.

Ringim has been under fire following the escape of the Boko Haram-Christmas Day bomber, Kabiru Sokoto from police custody.

He was scheduled to retire in March, this year. One source said Ringim filed a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan on January 23, 2012, seeking to retire from the Police Force, adding that Jonathan approved his request today.

Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Mohammed .D Abubakar has been named the new IGP.

The Presidency statement reads:

PRESIDENT JONATHAN APPOINTS ACTING INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the appointment of Mr. Mohammed D. Abubakar as Acting Inspector General of Police as a first step towards the comprehensive reorganization and repositioning of the Nigeria Police Force to make it more effective and capable of meeting emerging internal security challenges.
 
Mr. Abubakar who is currently an Assistant Inspector General of Police replaces Mr. Hafiz Ringim who proceeds on terminal leave with effect from today, 25th January 2012. 

Born on May 5, 1958, Mr. Abubakar   enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force on July 30, 1979. He was the AIG in charge of Zone 12 Headquarters in Bauchi, before his new appointment.  

President Jonathan has also approved the retirement of all Deputy Inspectors General of Police with immediate effect. These are: Mrs. Ivy Uche Okoronkwo, DIG POL 2i/c Force Headquarters, Abuja, Mr. Azubuko J. Udah, DIG Administration (“A” Dept), Mr. Sardauna Abubukar, DIG Training (“E” Dept.); Mr. Audu Abubakar, DIG Operations (“B” Dept); Mr. Saleh Abubakar, DIG Works (“C” Dept.) and Mr. Mohammed A. Yesufu, DIG Planning and Info-Tech (“F” Dept.).

The President has also established a Special Committee to oversee the urgent reorganization of the Nigeria Police Force. The committee is to be chaired by the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Parry B.O Osayande, DIG (rtd).

Other Members of the Committee are:
1.      Mr. Casimir T. Akagbosu, AIG (rtd.), mni
2.      Mr. Bashir A. Albasu, AIG (rtd.), fwc.
3.      Major Gen. S.N. Chikwe, rtd.
4.      Prof. S.D. Mukoro
5.      Dr. Fabian Ajogwu, SAN
6.      Aisha Larai Tukur
7.      Solicitor General of the Federation
8.      Permanent Secretary, SSO, Office of the SGF to serve as the Secretary to the Committee 

The Committee’s Terms of Reference are as follows:

1.      To identify the challenges and factors militating against effective performance in the Nigeria Police Force and make recommendations for addressing the challenges.
 2.      To examine the scope and standard of training and other personnel development activities in the Police to determine their adequacy or otherwise. 
3.      To determine the general and specific causes of the collapse of public confidence in the police and recommend ways of restoring public trust in the institution.
4.      To examine records of performance of Officers and Men of the Nigeria Police Force with a view to identifying those that can no longer fit into the system due to declining productivity,  age, indiscipline, corruption and/or disloyalty; 
5.      To make any other recommendations for the improvement of the Nigeria Police Force.
The Committee’s recommendations shall be implemented along with those by previous committees set up by Government on the reform of the Nigeria Police Force.