President Goodluck Jonathan has asked Inspector general of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to proceed on compulsory pre-retirement leave.

This was conveyed in a letter issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Fedration, Anyim Pius Anyim but signed by the President.

The IG has been instructed to hand over to the most senior office in the Police Force, Suleiman Fakai, who is the deputy inspector general of Police in charge of Finance and Administration.

Abubakar became Inspector General of Police on January 25, 2012 and his tenure is supposed to expire on July 30, 2014, when he would have put in the maximum 35 years in the Force.

He had applied for an extension of his tenure, but was turned down by the presidency.

Fakai will step in an acting capacity until a new Inspector General is announced.