VANGUARD
January 25, 2012
EXCERPTS:
There are strong indications that President Goodluck Jonathan has relieved Police IG, Hafiz Ringim, of his duties.
According to Villa sources who confided in Vanguard, the President summoned the embattled Police chief to his office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja Wednesday morning for a brief meeting, following which Ringim was told his services would no longer be needed. The meeting between Jonathan and Ringim which reportedly lasted over thirty minutes, caused an unusual delay in the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting.
Vanguard learnt that President Jonathan directed Ringim shortly after the meeting to immediately handover to his next in command and proceed on compulsory retirement.
Although the Force Headquarters in Abuja could not immediately confirm Ringim’s sack, it also did not deny it as the Deputy Force PRO, CSP Yemi Ajayi, told Vanguard: “I cannot confirm that yet.”
Before today”s ill-fated meeting with the President, Ringim was seen at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday evening with some big wigs ,ostensibly to prevail on the President to lend Ringim more grace.
Sources told Vanguard that the President, who hitherto condoned the slips of Ringim because the police chief was due to retire in March this year, could not however pardon Ringim’s recent goof involving the escape of Kabiru Sokoto, the Boko Haram suspect linked with the deadly Christmas Day bombings in Madalla, near Abuja, which claimed over forty lives. The President’s initial soft spot for Ringim, it was learnt, may also not be unconnected with their close ties right from the days when President Jonathan was deputy governor and governor in Bayelsa.
Vanguard also learnt that aside being abruptly relieved of his duties, Ringim may also be quizzed by the security agencies to divulge all he knows about the controversial escape of Sokoto.
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