The clock is ticking for the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Dikko Abubakar.

Feelers from the Presidency have it that the embattled top cop may not be allowed to stay on the job till July 30, when he is scheduled to retire upon completing 35 years in the service of the Nigeria Police Force.

“He is to be sacked any moments from now,” a usually reliable source told News Express over the weekend. “I can assure you that he will not be allowed to complete his tenure,” the source added.

Asked what IGP Abubakar’s sins are, the source said: “He has failed woefully to the extent that the Army and SSS (State Security Service) have taken over the work of the Police.”

The source claimed that Abubakar’s ostensibly imminent ouster was the reason why the Presidency has refused to release the 2014 Police Budget to him.

The source disclosed that the search for Abubakar’s successor has been narrowed down to two people:

Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIP) in charge of Operations, Mr. Michael Zuokumor, and Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Intelligence Bureau, Mr. Solomon Arase.

Abubakar joined the police in July 30, 1979 and replaced Hafiz Abubakar Ringim as IGP on January 25, 2012 in acting capacity and was confirmed as IGP in July 2012. Expectations that his coming would bring a new lease of life to the Force soon became dashed as he became embroiled in allegations of favoritism and nepotism, thus dampening the morale of a large chunk of officers and men, thus negatively impacting on the efficiency of the Force.

•Photo shows outgoing IGP M.D. Abubakar.