Jostle for Okiro’s job begins
By Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja
Published: Tuesday, 10 Feb 2009

Seventy-two days before the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, begins his terminal leave, the Presidency may have begun moves to find his replacement.

Sources close to the seat of power confided in our correspondent on Monday in Abuja that about four senior police officers have been pencilled down as his likely successor.

His tenure will expire on July 24.

By that time, Okiro would would have clocked 60 years but would only have served for 32 years in the police.

But he is expected to start his terminal leave on April 24, three months before his expected departure from office.

By law, public officers in Nigeria are expected to retire after 35 years in service or after attaining 60 years of age.

Okiro succeeded Mr. Sunday Ehindero in June 2007.

He was born on July 24, 1949 and joined the Nigeria Police Force on August 1, 1977.

Beside Okiro, two deputy inspectors-general of police have already proceeded on their terminal leaves.

They are the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Gazali Lawal, who is in charge of Works/Logistics.

Born on February 14, 1949, Lawal will retire on Saturday when he would have clocked 60 years and served for 33 years.

He joined the police on August 1, 1976.

The other DIG who has proceeded on terminal leave is Mr. Adedayo Adeoye, who also joined the force on August 1, 1976.

His formal disengagement will be on April 18, 2009 when he will leave the force as he clocked 60 years. By that time, he would have put in about 33 years in service.

Another DIG that will retire soon is Mr. Yusuf Haruna, who is in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department.

His formal retirement will take effect from June 15, 2009, after 35 years of service. He is also expected to start his terminal leave three months before then.

Though Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, a DIG, is not due for retirement, it was gathered that he might be asked to leave or serve in an acting capacity since his retirement would just be less than a month after Okiro’s.

Onovo, who is in charge of administration, is expected to retire on August 1, 2009.

The appointment of the IG is the sole prerogative of the President.

Though sources at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, were of the opinion that Okiro was interested in tenure extension like the government did for Ehindero, it was gathered that President Umaru Yar’Adua might not do so going by his avowed belief in the due process.