The Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, has refused a request by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to issue arrest warrants against five retired senior police officers accused of falsifying their ages to unlawfully extend their service years.
The affected officers are AIG Idowu Owohunwa (rtd.), CP Benneth Igweh (rtd.), CP Ukachi Peter Opara (rtd.), DCP Obo Ukam Obo (rtd.), and ACP Simon Lough, SAN (rtd.), who are facing a 14-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and age falsification.
At Thursday’s proceedings, Police Counsel AIG Ezekiel Rimamasonte informed the court that the defendants had been duly served with charges via WhatsApp, in line with Section 266(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015. He urged the court to issue arrest warrants, citing the officers’ absence despite notices of arraignment.
He explained that efforts to serve the officers at their official residences proved futile since they had vacated the properties after retirement.
However, defence counsel, Terkaa Aondo (SAN), opposed the application, arguing that the defendants had not been properly served. He insisted that criminal proceedings require personal service, not electronic substitutes.
“My Lord, up till now, the defendants have not been served with a copy of the charge. This is not a civil but a criminal matter which requires personal service. Until they are properly before the court, the request for a bench warrant is premature,” Aondo argued.
He further accused the police of double standards, questioning why the Force could go as far as arresting Nnamdi Kanu in Kenya and Omoyele Sowore in Nigeria but failed to bring the retired officers to court.
In his ruling, Justice Halilu Yusuf upheld the defence’s objection, stressing that personal service is mandatory in criminal matters.
“The police has the apparatus to bring the defendants to court. Until they are properly before the court, a bench warrant cannot be granted,” the judge ruled.
Justice Yusuf reminded the prosecution that the defendants had earlier been granted bail on self-recognisance, emphasizing that it was the responsibility of the police to produce them for arraignment.
“You are the prosecutor. You should do all within your powers to ensure that the defendants attend court on the next adjourned date,” he directed.
He also tasked defence counsel with ensuring their clients’ appearance in court at the next sitting.
The case has been adjourned to November 17, 2025, for arraignment.
Background of Charges
The 14-count charge against the retired officers includes allegations of conspiracy, forgery, falsification of age declarations, and fraudulent court depositions. Among the counts, the prosecution alleged that:
- AIG Idowu Owohunwa falsified his age declaration to remain in service beyond retirement.
- ACP Simon Lough, SAN, allegedly deposed to false affidavits regarding his years of service.
- The accused officers collectively conspired to alter service records and illegally benefit from extended years in office.
The offences are punishable under various provisions of the Penal Code Law, including Sections 97, 324, 178, 158(1), and 366.
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