The Federal Government has filed charges against five retired senior police officers over alleged age falsification and forgery, but their arraignment before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama was stalled for the third time on Thursday due to their absence in court.
The defendants — AIG Idowu Owohunwa (retd.), CP Benneth Igweh (retd.), CP Ukachi Peter Opara (retd.), DCP Obo Ukam Obo (retd). and ACP Simon A. Lough (SAN) (retd) — are facing a 14 charge marked CR/353/2025, brought by the Inspector-General of Police.
They are accused of conspiring to falsify their ages to remain in service beyond the mandatory retirement period, in violation of the Penal Code and the Public Service Rules.
The charges also allege forgery, fraudulent declarations, and the use of falsified documents in police records and court proceedings.
At Thursday’s sitting, prosecution counsel ACP Rimamsomte Ezekiel, told the court that efforts to serve the defendants at their last known addresses failed because they had relocated.
He said copies of the charge were also sent to their WhatsApp numbers without result. Ezekiel urged the court to issue a bench warrant for their arrest.
However, defence counsel, Terkaa Aondo (SAN), opposed the request, insisting that criminal charges require personal service.
He argued that the prosecution has the resources to arrest and produce the defendants, noting, “If they could arrest Nnamdi Kanu in Kenya and Omoyele Sowore in Nigeria, why not these defendants?”
In his ruling, Justice Yusuf Halilu agreed that personal service is mandatory in criminal proceedings and described the prosecution’s request for a bench warrant as premature.
He reminded the police that it was their duty to bring the defendants to court, having previously granted them bail on self-recognisance.
The judge adjourned the matter until November 17 for arraignment, directing both the prosecution and defence counsel to ensure the defendants’ presence.
Five retired senior police officers face age falsification charges