Police to Arraign Five Retired Senior Officers Over Alleged Age Falsification

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is set to arraign five retired senior officers on allegations of falsifying their ages to unlawfully extend their service years. The case, filed by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, has been assigned to Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, with arraignment scheduled for September 25.

Those named in the 14-count charge are Idowu Owohunwa, retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police; Benneth Igwe and Ukachi Opara, both retired Commissioners of Police; Obo Ukam Obo, retired Deputy Commissioner of Police; and Simon Lough, retired Assistant Commissioner of Police. The charge sheet also makes reference to “others at large.”

According to police investigators, Owohunwa allegedly declared a false date of birth in December 2024, claiming July 20, 1970, instead of his actual 1967 birth year. Igwe is accused of altering his records to show October 7, 1968, while evidence indicated he was born in 1964. His enlistment records also reportedly contained contradictions, reflecting both 1988 and 1996 as entry dates. Lough allegedly adjusted his records in 2022, changing his birth year from 1967 to 1969 in order to remain in service. Police authorities say the alleged offences contravene sections 97, 161, 366, and 158 of the Penal Code and violate public service rules.

The accused officers have denied the allegations, describing them as politically motivated. They link the case to a petition filed by the civil society group Integrity Youth Alliance, led by Kelvin Adegbenga. Following the petition, the IGP issued formal queries for serious misconduct on January 7, 2025. In his response, Owohunwa attributed the discrepancies in his records to a clerical error in his APER form, which wrongly listed 1970 as his birth year instead of 1967. He maintained his official appointment date was August 15, 1996. Igwe and Lough also rejected the allegations, insisting that the petitioners had misinterpreted the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) scheme, which allows for career record adjustments when officers are upgraded.

The arraignment is expected to test the NPF’s stance on internal accountability and integrity within its ranks.