LAGOS SEPTEMBER 25TH (NEWSRNAGERS)-The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has filed charges before an FCT High Court against five senior police officers over alleged age falsification to extend their service years.
Court sources told Daily Trust that Justice Yusuf Halilu has fixed September 25 for the arraignment.
The 14-count charge is 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 retired Assistant Commissioner of Police; and others at large.
In count 11, Owohunwa was accused of dishonestly falsifying a declaration of age in December 2024 in Abuja, claiming he was born on July 20, 1970, instead of his actual date of birth.
In count 12, CP Igwe allegedly altered his record to show he was born on October 7, 1968, whereas investigation revealed he was born on October 7, 1964.
The charge also noted contradictions in his enlistment record, which indicated both 1988 and 1996 as entry dates.
In count 13, ACP Lough was accused of falsifying his age in July 2022 to remain in service.
According to the police, while his records showed he was born on May 14, 1967, he allegedly altered it to May 14, 1969, contrary to the Public Service Rules.
The offences, according to the police, are punishable under sections 97, 161, 366 and 158 of the Penal Code.
Officers deny allegations
Meanwhile, most of the police officers have dismissed the allegations made against them, which arose from a petition by the Integrity Youth Alliance led by Kelvin Adegbenga accusing them of backdating their service records to stay in service, and which forced the IGP to issue queries of serious misconduct dated 7th January, 2025, against them, as false and malicious.
In a response dated January 16, 2025, AIG Owohunwa admitted a mix-up in his APER Form for Senior Police Officers, which mistakenly altered his birth year from 1967 to 1970. However, he maintained that his official appointment date remained August 15, 1996.
Igwe and Lough also denied wrongdoing, explaining that the petitioner confused their records with the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) scheme, which allows qualified officers to be upgraded. They noted that under the scheme, entrants are deemed to have resigned their previous appointments upon conversion to senior officers.
DailyTrust
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