Six senior police officers embroiled in allegations of age falsification and service extension fraud are reportedly pressuring the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, insisting that he must retire alongside them.
The officers – Idowu Owohunwa, Simon Lough (SAN), Benneth Igweh, Aina Emmanuel, Salama Wakili Abdul, and Adepoju Olugbenga – have been ordered to appear before a disciplinary committee at the Force Headquarters in Abuja between February 10 and February 13.
According to police sources, the committee may recommend their demotion or outright dismissal.
“The goal of the IGP Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) is to reduce the ranks and/or dismiss them outright,” a source revealed.
The controversy stems from the officers’ refusal to retire, despite surpassing either the age limit of 60 years or the maximum 35 years of service.
The officers argue that since Egbetokun himself exceeded his official retirement date on September 4, 2024, his continued stay in office renders all his actions – including their forced retirement – illegal.
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“They are saying that every action taken by Egbetokun since September 4 is illegal, including, but not limited to, the issuance of retirement letters to them, which they have refused to honour,” a police source said.
The situation has led to a standoff, with the officers interpreting the directive to appear in their official uniforms as proof that they remain in service.
“If he ordered them to arrive in uniform for disciplinary action after they have been purportedly retired, then he is accepting that they are still in service,” another source noted.
Meanwhile, nearly 500 officers have been implicated in the scandal, with some quietly opting for retirement while others have taken legal action.
Sources indicate that some of the officers approached the National Industrial Court last Friday, with assurances from the IGP’s legal team that they would not be retired.
The crisis has also heightened tensions between Egbetokun and Deputy Inspector General Dasuki Galandanchi, who is seeking a two-year extension, citing the precedent set by the IGP’s own tenure extension.
On February 5, the IGP directed the immediate retirement of senior officers who had exceeded the age or service limit.
The directive, issued in a letter signed by CP Bode Akinbamilowo on behalf of the IGP, was addressed to top police officers nationwide.
The letter references an earlier decision by the Police Service Commission (PSC) mandating the retirement of officers who have served for over 35 years or are above 60 years old.
The ongoing battle over tenure extension has sparked concerns about potential instability within the Nigeria Police Force, with observers warning that failure to resolve the crisis could set a dangerous precedent for future police leadership.
