Kayode Egbetokun, Kwara State Commissioner of Police, appealed to the parents and guardians to keep their wards off the streets, warning that anybody found wanting will face the wrath of the law.
Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), has formally filed a 14-count criminal charge against several high-ranking retired officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), including Idowu Owohunwa, former Assistant Inspector-General (AIG), over allegations bordering on age falsification, forgery, and fraudulent manipulation of official documents.
The charges, which were filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, under suit number CR/353/25, implicate other prominent retired officers such as Benneth Igweh, former Commissioners of Police (CP) for FCT and Ukachi Peter Opara (CP), Obo Ukam Obo; retired Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and Simon Asamber Lough, retired Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), among others who are said to be currently at large.
According to the court documents, the accused allegedly conspired to forge police signals and official records to alter their age and service information, effectively extending their time in service beyond the limits allowed under the Public Service Rules of Nigeria.
One of the key exhibits cited is Signal No. DTO 221535/05/89, allegedly fabricated and used to deceive authorities in multiple judicial proceedings.
The IGP alleges that the group manipulated these falsified documents to obtain favourable judgments in several suits at the National Industrial Court, including NICN/ABJ/354/2019, NICN/ABJ/353/2019, NICN/ABJ/281/21, and NICN/ABJ/88/2025, among others.
In each case, the accused are said to have falsely claimed to be still serving officers to influence court decisions, secure benefits, or challenge forced retirements.
Among the more serious allegations, the charge states that Simon Lough, who was once the lead prosecutor for the Nigeria Police Force, lied in court processes by claiming to have served for only 25 years, whereas records show he enlisted on August 1, 1987, and was well beyond the retirement threshold by 2022.
This development comes on the heels of an internal purge by the Police Service Commission (PSC), which on March 6, 2025, confirmed the retirement of seven senior officers.
This list included Owohunwa, Lough, Igweh, and four others, following an Extraordinary Meeting of the Commission held on February 20, 2025.
The PSC cited age falsification and other violations of service regulations as grounds for the forced retirements.
A police signal dated March 4, 2025, had communicated the retirement decision to various commands, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
It was learnt that the move was part of a broader crackdown by the IGP aimed at consolidating power and removing perceived rivals.
Meanwhile, a source within the police hierarchy alleged that Egbetokun viewed Owohunwa, who had served as the head of Zone 12, Bauchi, as a major threat, especially after the PSC declined to promote Owohunwa to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General (DIG), effectively ending his career advancement.
However, critics have accused the IGP of double standards. Despite the mass retirements, questions persist about Egbetokun’s eligibility to remain in office, with reports suggesting he has exceeded the retirement age of 60.
Reports revealed that Egbetokun narrowly escaped removal from office, allegedly due to the intervention of First Lady Remi Tinubu, with whom he is said to share a close relationship.
Police insiders have expressed concerns about the selective enforcement of retirement regulations.
The IGP is reported to have ordered the replacement of all implicated officers with loyalists, further raising eyebrows about the impartiality of the disciplinary actions.
Court documents accuse the defendants of manipulating their birth records and service dates to remain in office illegally. For instance,
Owohunwa is alleged to have submitted a falsified declaration of age dated April 4, 1990, stating he was born on July 20, 1970, in a bid to stay in service past the legal retirement age.
Similarly, Benneth Igweh allegedly altered his date of birth from October 7, 1964, to October 7, 1968, despite evidence that he enlisted in the Force in 1988.
The prosecution claims that Simon Lough also fraudulently amended his date of birth from May 14, 1967, to May 14, 1969, which allowed him to remain in office until January 2025, well beyond his retirement date.
Each of these actions, according to the charges, violates various sections of the Penal Code Law, including Sections 97, 158, 161, 178, 324, and 366, covering conspiracy, fraud, forgery, false declarations, cheating, and unlawful benefit.
