Alleged Age Falsification: Police Arraign Retired AIG, CPs Today

Justice Yusuf Halilu of an FCT precocious tribunal has fixed September 25 for the arraignment of 5 retired elder constabulary officers connected charges of allegedly falsifying their ages to widen their work years.

This is aft the Inspector-General of police, IGP Kayode Egbetukun, filed forgery charges against them.
The 14 charges are against Idowu Owohunwa, a retired Assistant Inspector General; Benneth Igwe, a retired Commissioner of Police; Ukachi Opara, a retired Commissioner of Police; Obo Ukam Obo, a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police; Simon Lough, a erstwhile Assistant Commissioner of Police; and others astatine large.

In number 11, Owohunwa was accused of dishonestly falsifying a declaration of property successful December 2024 successful Abuja, claiming helium was calved connected July 20, 1970, alternatively of his existent day of birth.
In number 12, CP Igwe allegedly altered his grounds to amusement helium was calved connected October 7, 1968, whereas the probe revealed helium was calved connected October 7, 1964.

The complaint besides noted contradictions successful his enlistment record, which indicated 1988 and 1996 arsenic introduction dates.

In number 13, ACP Lough was accused of falsifying his property successful July 2022 to stay successful service.
According to the police, portion his records showed helium was calved connected May 14, 1967, helium allegedly altered it to May 14, 1969, contrary to the Public Service Rules.

According to the police, the offences are punishable nether sections 97, 161, 366, and 158 of the Penal Code.

Recall that astir of the accused officers had dismissed the charges arsenic mendacious and malicious, insisting they arose from a petition filed by the Integrity Youth Alliance, led by Kelvin Adegbenga, which accused them of manipulating work records.

The petition prompted the IGP to contented queries of superior misconduct connected January 7, 2025.
In a effect dated January 16, 2025, AIG Owohunwa admitted a mix-up successful his APER Form for Senior Police Officers, which mistakenly altered his commencement twelvemonth from 1967 to 1970. However, helium maintained that his authoritative assignment day remained August 15, 1996.

Igwe and Lough besides denied wrongdoing, explaining that the petitioner confused their records with the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) scheme, which allows qualified officers to beryllium upgraded. They noted that nether the scheme, entrants are deemed to person resigned their erstwhile appointments upon conversion to elder officers.