IGP Egbetokun Drags Five Retired Senior Police Officers To Court Over Age Falsification

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has filed charges against five retired senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for allegedly falsifying their ages to extend their service years unlawfully.

The case has been brought before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court and assigned to Judge Yusuf Halilu, who has fixed September 25, 2025, for the arraignment of the defendants.

The 14-count charge names Idowu Owohunwa, a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police; Benneth Igwe and Ukachi Opara, both retired Commissioners of Police; Obo Ukam Obo, a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police; and Simon Lough, a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, along with “others at large.”

According to the police, Owohunwa allegedly falsified his date of birth in December 2024, claiming July 20, 1970, instead of his actual birth year. Igwe reportedly altered his records to show October 7, 1968, when investigators found he was born four years earlier. Lough was accused of changing his birth year from 1967 to 1969 in July 2022 to remain in service.

The police stated that these acts violated public service rules and sections 97, 161, 366, and 158 of the Penal Code.

However, the accused officers have denied any wrongdoing, describing the allegations as malicious and politically motivated. They claim the matter stems from a petition by the civil society group, Integrity Youth Alliance, led by Kelvin Adegbenga, which accused them of manipulating service records.

In response to the queries issued by the IGP on January 7, 2025, Owohunwa admitted to a clerical error in his APER form that incorrectly listed 1970 as his birth year, insisting that his official appointment date remained August 15, 1996.

Igwe and Lough also maintained their innocence, arguing that the petitioners confused their career records with the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) scheme, which allows certain officers to be upgraded and effectively resets their service records.

The court is expected to hear the case on September 25, 2025.

Sodiq Lawal

Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.

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