Two days after News Express broke the story, President Goodluck Jonathan late yesterday finally announced the appointment of AIG Suleiman Abba as the new Inspector-General of Police.

Jonathan confirmed this in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who in a tweet later explained that the appointment is in acting capacity.

It would be recalled that News Express had on Tuesday broken the news of Abba’s imminent appointment in a story entitled ‘IGP Abubakar presents AIG Suleiman Abba to President Jonathan as successor •Senior police officers, South-South leaders kick’.

Part of the story read: “As he prepares for the end of his service on July 31, out-going Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar has presented a dark horse to President Goodluck Jonathan as his preferred successor.

“Credible sources close to both the Presidency and the top hierarchy of the Nigerian Police disclosed that Abubakar has been pushing for the AIG Zone 7 Suleiman Abba from Jigawa State as the next IGP.

“News Express learnt that after extensive lobby of those very close to Dr. Jonathan, the out-going IGP was at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, last week Wednesday, July 23, with AIG Abba, apparently to physically present him to the President.”

In another story published yesterday afternoon, News Express authoritatively reported that Suleiman had been appointed the new IGP. This was hours before the official announcement. The story was entitled ‘Breaking News: Suleiman Abba survives intrigues, emerges new IGP’. The introduction read as follows:

“True to News Express’ exclusive report of two days ago, Suleiman Abba, until yesterday the Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) in charge of Zone 7, Abuja, has emerged as the new Inspector-General of Police. He succeeds Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, who completed the maximum allowed 35 years of service yesterday.

“Abba’s appointment is yet to be officially announced but the signal has already reached Louis Edet House, Headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force.”

Abba at various times served as the Commissioner of Police in charge of Rivers State, Deputy Force Secretary, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Deputy Force Secretary), and Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of State CID, FCT Police Command.

Breaking the news of Abba’s appointment reinforces the position of News Express as Nigeria’s number one online daily newspaper in breaking news and global updates. Big stories broken by News Express in the past include the death of professors Chinua Achebe and Festus Iyayi, Ph.D and master’s degree holders applying to work as truck drivers in Dangote Group, and the Nigerian Government’s establishment of a committee to negotiate with Boko Haram terrorist group.

News Express, which started operations in late August 2012, is edited and published by Africa’s international award-winning journalist Isaac Umunna.

•Photo shows new IGP Suleiman Abba.