Justice Halilu Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, on Thursday rejected a request by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to issue arrest warrants against five retired senior police officers accused of falsifying their ages to extend their service unlawfully.

The officers, AIG Idowu Owohunwa (rtd.), CP Benneth Igweh (rtd.), CP Ukachi Peter Opara (rtd.), DCP Obo Ukam Obo (rtd.) and ACP Simon Lough (SAN) (rtd.), are facing a 14-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and age falsification.

The IGP, represented by Police Counsel AIG Ezekiel Rimamasonte, expressed displeasure over the defendants’ absence in court, despite claims that they had been served with the charges.

Rimamasonte urged the court to issue arrest warrants, insisting that the charges had been sent to the defendants through WhatsApp, in line with Section 266(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

He argued that efforts to serve them at their last known addresses failed, as the officers had vacated their official residences after retirement.

But defence counsel, Terkaa Aondo (SAN), vehemently opposed the request, arguing that the defendants had not been properly served.

“My Lord, up till now, the defendants have not been served with a copy of the charge. This is not a civil but a criminal matter which requires personal service. Until they are properly before the court, the request for a bench warrant is premature,” Aondo said.

He accused the police of double standards, saying, “If they could go all the way to arrest Nnamdi Kanu in Kenya and Omoyele Sowore here in Nigeria, why can’t they arrest these defendants and bring them to court?”

In his ruling, Justice Yusuf upheld the defence’s argument, declaring the mode of service improper. He insisted that personal service was mandatory in criminal proceedings.

“The police has the apparatus to bring the defendants to court. Until they are properly before the court, a bench warrant cannot be granted,” the judge held.

He also reminded the prosecution that the defendants were earlier granted bail on self-recognisance, stressing that it remained the responsibility of the police to produce them for arraignment.

“You are the prosecutor. You should do all within your powers to ensure that the defendants attend court on the next adjourned date,” Justice Yusuf directed.

The judge further instructed the defence counsel to ensure their clients appear in court at the next sitting.

The case has been adjourned to November 17, 2025, for the arraignment of the accused retired police chiefs.

Parts of the charge read:

“Count 1.

“That you, AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Rtd), CP Benneth Igweh (Rtd), CP Ukachi Peter Opara (Rtd), DCP Obo Ukam Obo (Rtd), ACP Simon A. Lough SAN (Rtd) and others who are now at large, being members of force entrants of the Nigeria Police Force on or about 1999 till date in FCT Abuja, committed the offence of conspiracy with intent to commit criminal offence punishable under Section 97 (1) (2) of the Penal Code Law.

“Count 2

“That you AIG Idowu Owohunwa, (Rtd), CP Benneth Igweh (Rtd), CP Ukachi Peter Opara (Rtd), DCP Obo Ukam Obo (Rtd), ACP Simon A. Lough SAN (Rtd) and others who are now at large, who are members of force entrants of the Nigeria Police Force on or till January, 2025 in FCT Abuja, falsified and altered your ages and documents in the name of Nigeria Police Force in which you failed and could not vacate from office when you supposed to leave on retirement in line with Public Service Rule of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, remained and illegally benefited the privileges of your office and thereby committed offence of cheating, and punishable under Section 324 of the Penal Code Law.

“Count 3

“That you AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Rtd) on or about 30th April, 2021 in FCT Abuja, as a member of force entrants of the Nigeria Police Force Course 19 issued directives in the name of the Inspector-General of Police on the implementation of judgments, judgment which you know to be by fraud with fake and falsified documents and thereby committed the above offence punishable under Section 178 of the Penal Code Law.

“Count 4

“That you ACP Simon A. Lough SAN (Rtd) on or about 25″ day of March, 2025 in FCT Abuja, dishonestly and fraudulently depose to process of court in the case of AIG Idowu Owohunwa & 2 others v. PSC & 7 others, suit No: NICN/ABJ/88/2025A that you have only served for 25 years in the Nigeria Police Force, knowing that, you are lying and also dishonest when you enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on 1st August, 1987 and thereby committed offence punishable under Section 158(1) of the Penal Code Law.

“Count 5

“That you AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Rtd) on or about December, 2024 in Abuja, with intent to remain serving in the Nigeria Police Force against the provision of the public Service Rules of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, dishonestly falsified and submitted to the Nigeria Police Force Record, a declaration of age dated 4th April, 1990 Kogi State of Nigeria, that you are born on 20 July, 1970 and thereby committed offence punishable under Section 366 of the Penal Code Law.”

You may also like