IGP shakes police hierarchy as five senior officers face court over alleged age fraud

A quiet but far reaching shake-up is unfolding within the Nigeria Police Force as the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has filed criminal charges against five retired senior officers, accusing them of falsifying their age records in a bid to unlawfully extend their years of service. 

The case, which insiders say could expose deeper institutional rot, is set for arraignment before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court today, September 25, 2025.

The 14 count charge filed by police prosecutors includes allegations of conspiracy, forgery, and misconduct. Named in the charge sheet are 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. Court documents also reference “others at large,” suggesting that the investigation may not yet be closed.

According to case files obtained from the court registry, the former officers are alleged to have manipulated their official records at various points during their careers. Owohunwa reportedly altered his date of birth in December 2024, retroactively claiming July 20, 1970, instead of an earlier date. Investigators argue that this change effectively extended his tenure beyond the mandatory retirement age.

Igwe is accused of changing his birth year from 1964 to 1968, while conflicting enlistment dates. 1988 in one record, 1996 in another, has also raised red flags. Lough allegedly modified his birth date from May 14, 1967, to May 14, 1969, in July 2022, a move prosecutors say violates the public service rules and was intended to postpone his retirement.

The charges, brought under Sections 97, 161, 366, and 158 of the Penal Code, carry significant legal consequences if proven. Police authorities maintain that the discrepancies go beyond clerical errors and represent deliberate attempts to circumvent statutory regulations on age and service duration.

However, the accused have dismissed the charges as politically motivated. They point to a January 2025 petition by the Integrity Youth Alliance, a civil society group led by Kelvin Adegbenga, as the root of the case. The group had alleged that several senior officers had falsified their records to remain in service unlawfully.

Acting on the petition, the IGP issued formal queries to the affected officers on January 7, citing serious misconduct. In his written response to the query, Owohunwa acknowledged what he described as a “mix up” in his Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER) form, which listed his birth year as 1970 instead of 1967. He insisted that his official appointment date August 15, 1996 remained unchanged and verifiable.

Igwe and Lough, meanwhile, denied any wrongdoing, arguing that the petitioners had likely confused their records with those under the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) scheme, which allows for mid-career officer upgrades that may reflect different entry timelines.

Despite the defences, senior police officials maintain that the matter is too serious to overlook. They argue that the integrity of the Force is at stake, particularly given the ranks held by the accused officers. According to sources familiar with the investigation, internal probes confirmed multiple inconsistencies in the service records of the accused, prompting the IGP to escalate the matter to court.

Legal observers believe the case could have broader implications across the civil service and security agencies, where age falsification has long been an open secret. Some experts suggest that a successful prosecution may prompt similar audits in other government institutions, possibly uncovering widespread abuses that have gone unpunished for decades.

The arraignment on today is expected to draw significant attention, both within law enforcement circles and among civil society groups pushing for institutional reform. As the proceedings begin, the Force appears determined to send a message: that no rank places an officer above the rules they once swore to uphold.