The Nigerian Police Force has denied reports that the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar had been asked to proceed on pre-retirement leave.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, a chief superintendent of Police, issued in Abuja on Thursday said Abubakar was “fully on his desk” as police headquarters has not received any official communication regarding his retirement.

“The Police High Command is not in receipt of any official communication from the appropriate government quarters informing the IGP of his inevitable glorious retirement from the Force. Therefore IGP MD Abubakar CFR, who was fully on his desk today, has continued to perform his official duties as the 16th Indigenous IGP,” the statement said.

Media reports had indicated that President Goodluck Jonathan asked Abubakar to proceed on compulsory pre-retirement leave.

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

The IG, according to the letter was 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 will expire on July 30, 2014, when he would have put in the maximum 35 years in the Force and according to standard practice, he ought to have proceeded on pre-retirement leave in April, three months before the actual retirement date.