Age-Falsifying Saga: Senior Police Officers Arrive At Nigeria Police Headquarters For Disciplinary Committee Amidst Fears Of Arrest

Six senior police officers implicated for age falsification and violation of service regulations have arrived at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja following their summons.

The officers—Idowu Owohunwa, Simon Lough (SAN), Benneth Igweh, Aina Emmanuel, Salama Wakili Abdul, and Adepoju Olugbenga—were directed to appear before the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) after exceeding either the 60-year age limit or the 35-year service requirement without retiring.

As exclusively reported by SaharaReporters on Saturday, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun ordered the officers to face the disciplinary panel at the Force Headquarters.

The hearings are scheduled to take place from Monday, February 10, to Thursday, February 13.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that the officers had refused to retire unless Egbetokun—who has also surpassed his retirement age—retired with them.

SaharaReporters reported on Sunday that the senior officers asserted that all actions taken by the police chief (Egbetokun) since his official retirement date on September 4, 2024, were null and void.

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters learnt that the senior officers arrived at the police headquarters on Monday, looking sober.

Police sources told SaharaReporters that the atmosphere at the police headquarters was tense amid fear of arrest.

Also, according to sources, Simon Lough and the others have been found to have forged documents to obtain a judgement at the National Industrial Court.

“The age defying senior police officers have all arrived at the police headquarters for trial and they looked sober,” one of the sources said.

“It was revealed that Simon Lough and others forged documents to obtain judgement at the Industrial Court. Meanwhile, the atmosphere is tense at the headquarters over their appearance before the Force Disciplinary Committee as they fear arrest.”

On Sunday, SaharaReporters reported that the senior police officers have seized upon the directive to appear before the disciplinary committee in their “working dress” as an admission by the police authorities that they are still very much in active service.

“They are also saying that if he ordered them to arrive in uniform for disciplinary action after they have been purportedly retired, then he is accepting that they are still in service,” one of the sources said.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that the police officers and many others were implicated in forgery, falsification, and bypassing service regulations.

BACKGROUND

On Saturday, SaharaReporters reported that the Inspector General of Police, Egbetokun, had ordered that the senior police officers who refused to retire should appear before a disciplinary committee.

The police signal dated February 7, 2025 and obtained by SaharaReporters on Saturday, reads, “INGENPOL directs you warn and release AP. No. 50645 Idowu Owohunwa, AΡ/ΝΟ. 50703, AIG Benneth Igweh, ΑΡ/ΝΟ. 41704, CP Aina Emmanuel, AP/NO.41741, CP Salama Wakili Abdul, ΑΡ/ΝΟ. 46522, Adepoju Olugbenga Adewole, AP/NO. 57917 DCP Simon Lough, SAN, serving yours to appear before the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) sitting from 10/02/2025 ΤΟ 13/05/2025.

BREAKING: ‘IGP’ Egbetokun Sets Up Disciplinary Committee Against Senior Police Officers Who Refused To Retire
“Time 1000HRS; venue IGP’S Conference Hall, 7th floor, Force Headquarters, Abuja. They are to report in their clean working dress; note daily dress code to be strictly adhered to. Treat as very important please.”

On Friday, SaharaReporters exclusively reported that a mutiny was brewing within the Nigeria Police Force, as over 200 senior officers were refusing to retire despite being found to have falsified their birth records.