3 Controversies that Reportedly Forced Buhari to Sack IGP as Mohammed Adamu bows out of service, hands over to Usman Baba

The outgoing Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has handed over to the new acting IGP, Usman Alkali Baba.

According to report, the handing over ceremony was conducted at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, April 7.

The Nation newspaper which reported the event stated that Adamu over after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo decorated Baba with his new rank in the State House, Abuja.

VAM News had earlier reported that Yemi Osinbajo, the vice president of Nigeria, decorated the new acting IGP, Usman Alkali Baba, with his new rank in the State House, Abuja.

Baba’s appointment was announced by the minister of police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, when he addressed journalists at the presidential villa.

He said that the appointment was with immediate effect.

When asked about why the president did not allow the outgoing IGP to complete his extended tenure, the minister said it is the prerogative of President Buhari to decide on when to make an appointment.

The acting IGP replaced Mohammed Adamu whose tenure ended in February but had his tenure extended by Buhari for three months.

The sacking of Mohammed Adamu as the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) on Tuesday, April 6, came as a surprise to many Nigerians.

Meanwhile, the former police boss was fired after he spent about two months out of his three-month extended tenure.

The police affairs minister announced that a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Usman Baba, will replace Adamu as the acting IGP, The Cable reported.

In the presidency message;

''Mr. President is aware of this and you cannot take away that responsibility from him; he’s the one who is in charge of appointing or extending tenures.''

However, Daily Trust has reported that there are 3 underlining reasons that prompted the president to sack IGP Adamu as discussed below.

1. Suit challenging the controversial extension of IGP Adamu's tenure According to Daily Trust, credible sources who did not want to be named claimed that one of the reasons why the former IGP was sacked was because of a case challenging the three-month extension of his tenure. The suit challenging Adamu’s continued stay in office was filed by a lawyer, Maxwell Okpara, before a Federal High in Abuja.

Sources said the presidency decided to relieve the police boss of his duties to save itself from embarrassment over an impending court judgment that could go against the tenure extension.

2. Alleged poor financial management and administrative lapses in police

Another reason adduced for Admu’s sack was the story by Daily Trust which alleged that poor financial management and administrative lapses were affecting the activities of the police nationwide.

A source at the police affairs ministry said the story generated ripples as the presidency expressed displeasure to both the police management and the ministry.

3. Rising attacks on police formations in southeast

The newspaper also reported that the attack on police command headquarters in Owerri, Imo State, in the early hours of Monday, April 5, culminated in the sacking of Adamu.

According to Sahara Reporters, a source who spoke anonymously said people close to the president felt Adamu had run out of ideas on how to stop the rising attacks on police formations in the southeast and south-south regions of the country.

Meanwhile, following the attack on the Imo police headquarters, the outgoing Inspector-General of Police, Adamu Muhammed has ordered officers to deal with members of Indigenous People of Biafra. (IPOB)

The Nation reported that Adamu gave the order on Tuesday, April 6, when he visited the burnt Imo police command headquarters and the Owerri Correctional Service. He said police officers must crush IPOB members to the last man.