*Order six-month induction

The Nigeria Police Force has directed 475 officers who were previously retired over a disputed “merger of service” policy to report for a compulsory six-month induction course at the Police Staff College, Jos, following a court judgment that reversed their retirements.

In a confidential memo dated July 31, 2026, which was addressed to all Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) across the country’s 17 police zones; the Commandant of the Police Staff College, Jos, and Commissioners of Police in all states and FCT, the Force Secretary, AIG Bode Akinbamilowo, forwarded a decision of the Police Service Commission (PSC), taken at its plenary meeting of June 25, 2026, on the regularisation of the affected officers’ dates of first appointment.

According to the letter, the officers were among those retired pursuant to a PSC decision at its 1st Extraordinary Meeting held on January 31, 2025, on the merger of service. 

Their retirements were subsequently reversed in compliance with a judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/28/2025. 

Akinbamilowo, writing for the Inspector-General of Police, directed zonal commands and state police commissioners to “locate and warn” the affected officers to report at the Police Staff College, Jos, for the six-month induction course.

The affected officers span multiple entrant courses dating back to 1992 up to 2012, and cut across ranks from Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) down to Superintendent of Police (SP). 

Among the most senior officers named on the list are: Owohunwa Idowu, AIG (AP/No 50645), from Force Entrants Cadet ASP Course 19/1996, appointed 15 August 1996; Benneth Chinedu Igwe, AIG (AP/No 50703), also from Course 19/1996, appointed 15 August 1996; Uche Ifeanyi Henry, AIG (AP/No 57903), from Force Entrants Cadet ASP Course 20/2000, appointed 1 May 2000; and Simon Asamber Lough, SAN, DCP (AP/No 57917), also from Course 20/2000, appointed 1 May 2000.

According to the document, Idowu’s age as of the date of the letter was 55 years, 11 months and 13 days, while Igwe’s was 57 years, eight months and 26 days. Lough’s age was listed as 57 years, one month and 19 days.

For Idowu, the document lists his retirement by age as July 20, 2030, retirement by appointment as August 15, 2031, and his actual retirement date as July 20, 2030.

For Igwe, the retirement by age is listed as October 7, 2028, retirement by appointment as August 15, 2031, and the actual retirement date as October 7, 2028.

For Lough, the retirement by age is listed as May 14, 2029, retirement by appointment as May 1, 2035, and the actual retirement date as May 14, 2029.

The induction course is scheduled to run in two phases: an arrival and documentation period from August 1 to August 16, 2026, followed by the six-month induction proper from August 17, 2026, to February 16, 2027.

The Inspector-General further directed the Commandant of the Police Staff College, Jos, to submit returns of all documented induction course participants on or before August 24, 2026, warning that “lateness will not be tolerated.”

Copies of the letter were also sent to the IGP’s Secretariat and Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs) overseeing Finance and Administration, Operations, Logistics and Supply, Investigation, Training and Development, Research and Planning, Information and Communication Technology, and Intelligence, as well as the Assistant Inspector-General in charge of Police, Accounts and Budget, who were directed to “take their respective action to ensure hitch-free induction course.”

Also listed among the affected officers is AIG Joseph O. Eribo (AP/No 46617), whose details appear in Annexure B(ii) under Force Entrants for Cadet ASP Course 18/1994. 

According to the document, Eribo was born on January 26, 1968, enlisted on September 1, 1991, and was appointed on June 10, 1994. His retirement by age is listed as January 26, 2028. 

Also named in the same annexure is CP Fidelis Ndubuisi Ogarabe (AP/No 46521), born June 20, 1969, who enlisted on May 1, 1993, and was appointed on June 10, 1994, with a retirement date by age of October 6, 2029.

From Annexure C(i), covering Cadet ASP Course 26/2012, the document lists SP Olasukanmi Lateef Olujide (AP 97236), born May 5, 1967, and appointed on July 9, 2012. As at June 29, 2026, his age was recorded as 59 years, one month and 24 days, with retirement by age due on May 5, 2027. 

Also listed is SP Kayode Ayo Aborishade (AP 99914), born July 21, 1969, appointed the same day, with retirement by age scheduled for July 21, 2029.

Annexure C(vi), for Cadet ASP Course 22/2005, includes CSP Sanusi Amiru (AP 94650), born February 3, 1967, and appointed February 1, 2005.

His age as at June 29, 2026, was listed as 59 years, four months and 26 days, making him one of the officers closest to retirement on the entire list, with his retirement by age due February 3, 2027. 

The same annexure lists CSP Grace Idowu Agboola (AP 94462), born April 13, 1968, and appointed February 1, 2005, with a retirement-by-age date of August 13, 2028.

From Annexure C(ix), covering Cadet ASP Promotion Course 1/2003 at PSC Jos, the document lists CSP Oluwadare Ezekiel Ayeni (AP 87552), born July 4, 1968, and appointed December 15, 2003, with retirement by age due July 4, 2028. 

Also listed is CSP Angela Agabe (AP 88015), born January 1, 1975, and appointed the same date, making her one of the youngest officers on the list, with retirement by age not due until January 1, 2035.

Annexure C(xvi), for Cadet ASP Course 20/2000, includes DCP Akinbayo Olasukami Olasoji (AP 57910), born October 27, 1968, and appointed May 1, 2000, with retirement by age due October 27, 2028, alongside DCP Louis Chike Nwabuwa (AP 57923), born October 19, 1970, appointed the same date, with retirement by age due October 19, 2030.

The document also lists officers from Annexure C(xxiii), covering Cadet Inspector Course 3/1992, one of the oldest entrant courses affected by the directive. Among them is ACP Benjamin Okehielam Okwara (AP 40009), born December 17, 1966, and enlisted May 18, 1992. 

As at June 29, 2026, his age was recorded as 59 years, six months and 12 days, making him one of the most senior officers by age on the entire list, with retirement by age due just months away, on December 17, 2026.

Also listed in the same annexure is CSP Rita A.A. Inoma-Abbey, PhD (AP 42114), born June 22, 1967, and enlisted the same date, with retirement by age due June 22, 2027. (Sahara Reporters)