The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has filed a 14-count criminal charge against several retired senior police officers, including former Assistant Inspector-General, Idowu Owohunwa, and former Commissioners of Police, Benneth Igweh and Ukachi Peter Opara — over alleged age falsification and forgery.

Also among those being prosecuted is the former Director of Police Legal Services and first police officer to be elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), ACP Simon Lough, SAN.

The charge, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja, bore suit number CR/353/25, also lists retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Obo Ukam Obo, as defendants. 

Other suspects alleged to be involved are at large, according to information obtained from Force headquarters.

According to the court filings, the accused, all former officers of the Nigeria Police Force, enlisted around 1999, are alleged to have forged official police signals and used them to manipulate their records.

 One such document, Signal No. DTO 221535/05/89, purportedly issued from NIGPOL Admin Lagos, to the Commandant of the Police Academy in Kaduna, was also cited as a key piece of forged evidence used in the alleged scheme.

The IGP accused the defendants of conspiracy, forgery, and unlawful alteration of official records, among other offenses.

The charges read: “That you (1) AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Rtd), (2) CP Benneth Igweh (Rtd), (3) CP Ukachi Peter Opara (Rtd), (4) DCP Obo Ukam Obo (Rtd), (5) 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 which is within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed the offence of conspiracy with intent to commit criminal offence punishable under Section 97 (1) (2) of the Penal Code Law,

“That you AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Rtd), (2) CP Benneth Igweh (Rtd), (3) CP Ukachi Peter Opara (Rtd), (4) DCP Obo Ukam Obo (Rtd), (5) 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 2019 in FCT Abuja which is within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed offence in that, you falsified and also use as genuine, signal of the Nigeria Police Force, signal No. DTO 221535/05/89 in the name of the NIGPOL Admin, Lagos, to Compol Academy Kaduna and hereby committed offence punishable under Section 366 of the Penal Code Law.

“That you AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Rtd), (2) CP Benneth Igweh (Rtd), (3) CP Ukachi Peter Opara (Rtd), (4) DCP Obo Ukam Obo (Rtd), (5) 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 2019, in FCT Abuja, which is within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, to wit, falsified signal in the name of the Nigeria Police Force No: DTO:261340/061/89 Compol Admin, Sokoto, which you dishonestly committed and thereby committed the offence which is punishable under Section 366 of the Penal Code Law.

The charge added, “That you AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Rtd), (2) CP Benneth Igweh (Rtd), (3) CP Ukachi Peter Opara (Rtd), (4) DCP Obo Ukam Obo (Rtd) and others who are now at large, who are members of force entrants of the Nigeria Police Force, on or about 22nd day of November, 2019, at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Garki, Abuja, to wit, dishonestly used as genuine, signal which you falsified No: DTO: 221535/05/89 and No: DTO:261340/061/89 in the case of ACP Chinedu Ambrose Emengaha & Ors -Vs- P.S.C. & 2 Ors, suit No: NICN/ABJ/354/2019, with which you deceived and obtained judgment against the Nigeria Police Force and thereby committed offence punishable under Section 161 of the Penal Code Law.

“That you 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 22nd day of November, 2019 at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Garki, Abuja, to wit, dishonestly and fraudulently used as genuine, signal which you falsified No: DTO: 221535/05/89 and No: DTO:261340/061/89 in the case of ACP Sunday Okuguni & Ors -Vs- PSC & 1 or Suit No: NICN/ABJ/353/2019 for and on behalf of course 20 force entrants of the Nigeria Police Force, which you deceived and obtained judgment against the Nigeria Police Force and thereby committed the offence punishable under Section 161 of the Penal Code Law.

“That you AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Rtd), (2) CP Benneth Igwch (Red), (3) CP Ukachi Peter Opara (Rtd), (4) DCP Obo Ukam Obo (Rid), (5) 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 about 2021 and 2022, dishonestly connived with CSP Egong Egwu Egong & Ors for and as representing members of course 33, 34 and 35 of the Police Academy -Vs- PSC & 2 Ors Suit No NICN/ABJ/281/21 and ACP Adesina Olunlade & 1 Or for themselves and for course 21 of Force entrants of the Police Academy-Vs-PSC & 2 Ors, suit No: NICN/ABJ/51/2022 No. DTO: 22/1535/05/89 and No: DTO: 261340/061/89, deceived and obtained judgments at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, against the Nigeria Police Force by Frauds and thereby committed offence punishable under Section 161 of the Penal Code Law.

It said, “That you AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Rtd), (2) CP Benneth Igweh (Rtd), (3) ACP Simon A. Lough SAN (Rtd) on or about 25th day of March, 2025 in FCT Abuja, which is within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and with intents to mislead the National Industrial Court of Nigeria and the general members of the public, depose to the affidavit in the case of AIG Idowu Owohunwa & 2 Ors-vs- PSC & 7 Ors suit No: NICN/ABJ/88/2025, that you are all serving members of the Nigeria Police Force, knowing that you have served and retired from the force and thereby committed offence punishable under Section 158(2) of the Penal Code Law.

“That you AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Rtd), (2) CP Benneth Igweh (Rtd) (3) ACP Simon A. Lough SAN (Rtd), on or about 25th March, 2025 in FCT, Abuja, which is within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly and fraudulently attached your falsified signals No: DTO: 221535/05/89 and No: DTO 51340/061/89 to your case in between AIG Idowu Owohunwa & 2 Ors -Vs-SC & 7 Ors, Suit: NICN/ABJ/88/2025, with the view to mislead the court that, the documents truly came from the Nigeria Police Force and thereby committed ence punishable under Section 161 of the Penal Code Law.

“That you AIG Idowu Owokunwa (Red), on or about 30 April, 2021 in FCT Abuja which is within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court 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.

Another charge also reads, “That you ACP Simon A. Lough SAN (Rtd), on or about 25 day of March, 2025 in FCT, Abuja, which is within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly and fraudulently depose to process of court in the case of AIG Idowu Owahunwa & 2 Or-Vs- PSC & 7 Ors, 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 1” August, 1987, and thereby committed offence punishable under Section 158(1) of the Penal Code Law.

“That you AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Rtd), on or about December, 2024, in Abuja, which is within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and 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 4% April, 1990, from Kogi State of Nigeria, that you were born on 20th July, 1970 and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 366 of the Penal Code Law.

“That you CP Benneth Igwe (Rtd) on or about December, 2024 in Abuja which is within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, to wit committed the offence of age falsification, in that you enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on 1 May, 1988, on record, that you were born on 7th October, 1964. And investigation revealed that you altered your age to be that you are born on 7th October, 1968, whereas you enlisted into the Nigeria Police in 1996. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 366 of the Penal Code Law

“That you ACP Simon A. Lough SAN (Rtd), on or about July, 2022, in FCT, Abuja, which is within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed offence of falsifying your age in order to remain serving in the Nigeria Police Force in that, when you enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on 1 August, 1987, on record, you were born on 14 May, 1967. You dishonestly and fraudulently altered and faked your age to be 14th May, 1969 against Public Service Rule of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and also knowing that you have retired, but remained in office beyond 1 August, 2022, till January, 2025 and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 161 of the Penal Code Law.

“That you AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Rtd), (2) CP Benneth Igweh (Rtd), (3) CP Ukachi Peter Opara (Rtd), (4) DCP Obo Ukam Obo (Rtd), (5) 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, which is within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court. You 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 were supposed to leave on retirement, in line with Public Service Rule of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Remained and illegally benefited the privileges of the office and thereby committed offence of cheating, and punishable under Section 324 of the Penal Code Law.”

On March 6, 2025, SaharaReporters had reported that the police announced the discharge and retirement of seven senior officers, including AIG Owohunwa and ACP Simon Lough, SAN.

Others were CP Benneth Igweh C., CP Aina Emmanuel A., CP Salama Wakili Abdul, ACP Dakon Philip Sarpiwefa, and Grace O. Ejiofor.

This was announced in a police wireless message dated March 4, 2025 and sent to zonal commands, state commands, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), among others.

It cited the ‘Decisions of the Extra Ordinary Meeting of the Police Service Commission held on Thursday 20th February, 2025.’

Owohunwa was the AIG in charge of Zone 12 Bauchi.

The police authorities promptly prepared his retirement letter after he failed to secure a promotion to the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG).

The Police Service Commission (PSC) declined to elevate Owohunwa, paving the way for his removal.

SaharaReporters had also reported that concerns were mounting within the Force over the continued stay of Egbetokun in office, despite also being in office beyond the retirement age of 60.

Infractions such as age falsification and violation of service rules, led to the forced retirement of several senior officers.

It was also revealed that Egbetokun, who officially retired all his coursemates by March 3, 2025, had been filling their positions with new senior officers.

Some police insiders and analysts had started questioning why the IGP himself remained in office, while enforcing strict retirement policies on others.

A previously published list of police officers found to have engaged in some infraction, included about 467 officers implicated in age falsification, among them Simon Lough, SAN, Benneth Igweh, and several others.

The recent controversy surrounding the police force stems from the forced retirement of several senior officers by the Police Service Commission (PSC).

The PSC had issued directive mandating the retirement of officers who have served for 35 years or reached the age of 60, in line with Public Service Rules.

The former Nigeria Police Force’s lead prosecutor, Simon Asamber Lough (SAN), had alleged that his forced retirement was a direct consequence of his refusal to support a plot against the emergence of retired AIG Idowu Owohunwa as the next Inspector General of Police (IGP).
He had said the scheme involved the removal of no fewer than six senior officers, driven by the fear that Owohunwa would become the longest-serving IGP under the amended Police Act 2020.

Lough had alleged that his removal was orchestrated by influential figures within the police, backed by “high-profile fraudsters” he was prosecuting for cases involving billions of naira and dollars. (SaharaReporters)