A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has directed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to ensure the appearance of five retired senior police officers accused of age falsification and forgery.
The officers are yet to appear in court despite being formally served with charges.
Justice Halilu Yusuf gave the order during a hearing on Tuesday after the prosecuting lawyer, Rimamsomte Ezekiel, informed the court that none of the defendants showed up, even though they were duly notified.
Addressing the prosecution, Justice Yusuf emphasized,
“You are the prosecutor. You should do all within your powers to ensure that the defendants attend court on the next adjourned date for arraignment.”
The court subsequently adjourned the case until September 25, 2025 to give the prosecution more time to bring the accused before the court.
The five retired officers facing a 14-count charge filed by the IGP include:
- AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Retired)
- CP Benneth Igweh (Retired)
- CP Ukachi Peter Opara (Retired)
- DCP Obo Ukam Obo (Retired)
- ACP Simon A. Lough SAN (Retired)
Filed under suit number CR/353/2025, the charges involve:
- Age falsification to unlawfully extend their service tenure beyond the official retirement age
- Forgery and submission of fraudulent documents
- Cheating and dishonest conduct in official police records
Some key allegations highlight that the accused manipulated their ages and official records to illegally remain in service and continue benefiting from police privileges. For example:
–AIG Owohunwa is accused of submitting a falsified age declaration to the police force records to unlawfully extend his service.
–CP Benneth Igweh allegedly altered his birthdate to appear younger and evade mandatory retirement.
–ACP Simon Lough is charged with falsifying his age and remaining in service well beyond his retirement date.
The Inspector-General of Police initiated the prosecution following investigations into alleged backdating and manipulation of police records by several senior officers, including the INTERPOL boss.
Despite the charges, none of the accused have yet appeared in court, prompting the judge to adjourn the case to give the prosecution a chance to ensure their presence.
The court hearing is scheduled for September 25, 2025, when the prosecution is expected to present the accused for arraignment.
