The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has instituted a 14-count criminal case against several retired high-ranking police officers, including former Assistant Inspector-General Idowu Owohunwa and ex-Commissioners of Police Benneth Igweh and Ukachi Peter Opara.
The charges stem from accusations of falsifying official documents and manipulating age records.
Filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja under case number CR/353/25, the suit also names retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Obo Ukam Obo and retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Simon Lough (SAN) as co-defendants. Additional individuals implicated in the case are reportedly on the run.
According to court documents, the accused, who joined the Nigeria Police Force around 1999, are said to have forged internal police communications to alter their service records. A particular signal, designated as DTO 221535/05/89 and allegedly sent from NIGPOL Admin Lagos to the Police Academy in Kaduna, has been cited as a critical piece of falsified evidence.
The police leadership has accused the former officers of engaging in conspiracy, document forgery, and illegal modification of official records. One section of the charge reads:
“That you AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Rtd)…committed the offence of conspiracy with intent to commit criminal offence punishable under Section 97 (1) (2) of the Penal Code Law…”
Further counts detail how the suspects allegedly used fabricated signals to mislead courts and obtain favorable judgments in various legal disputes, particularly those involving the Police Service Commission (PSC).
“That you…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…thereby committed the offence punishable under Section 161 of the Penal Code Law.”
The charges also allege that some of the accused submitted false affidavits and forged documents in court proceedings to conceal their actual retirement status and extend their time in service.
“That you AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Rtd)…depose to the affidavit in the case of AIG Idowu Owohunwa & 2 Ors-vs- PSC & 7 Ors…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 CP Benneth Igwe (Rtd)…committed the offence of age falsification…investigation revealed that you altered your age to be that you are born on 7th October, 1968…thereby committed offence punishable under Section 366 of the Penal Code Law.”
Earlier this year, on March 6, 2025, it was reported that the police hierarchy had confirmed the retirement of several senior officers via a wireless message dated March 4. Among those listed were Owohunwa, Lough, Igweh, CP Aina Emmanuel A., CP Salama Wakili Abdul, ACP Dakon Philip Sarpiwefa, and Grace O. Ejiofor.
The announcement referenced decisions made during an extraordinary PSC meeting held on February 20, 2025.
(SAHARA REPORTERS)
