A brewing storm is rocking the Nigerian Police Force as senior officers, accused of age falsification, are openly defying the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. In an unprecedented move, these officers are demanding Egbetokun’s immediate retirement, citing unfair treatment and alleging that his post-retirement actions are illegal. As tensions escalate, the very foundation of the police force is being tested, raising critical questions about leadership, accountability, and the future of law enforcement in Nigeria.

Six senior police officers implicated in age falsification and circumventing service regulations are threatening the Nigerian Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. They insist that he must retire alongside them.

The six officers are Idowu Owohunwa, Simon Lough, SAN, Benneth Igweh, Aina Emmanuel, Salama Wakili Abdul, and Adepoju Olugbenga.

SaharaReporters reported on Saturday that Egbetokun has ordered senior police officers who are either over 60 years old or have served for more than 35 years and refused to retire to appear before a disciplinary committee at Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The hearings are scheduled to take place from Monday, February 10, to Thursday, February 13.

Meanwhile, according to reports from police sources on Sunday, Lough, Owohunwa and the other officers invited to appear before the disciplinary committee may be demoted or dismissed outright.

“The goal of the IGP Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) is to reduce the ranks and/or dismiss them outright,” a source stated.

Sources informed SaharaReporters that senior officers are refusing to retire unless Egbetokun, who has also surpassed his retirement age, retires alongside them. They assert that all actions taken by the police chief, Egbetokun, since his official retirement date on September 4, 2024, are null and void.

The officers argue that these actions, including his issuance of retirement letters to them, are illegal and have refused to acknowledge them.

“Senior police officers invited to appear before a disciplinary committee are reportedly threatening Police Inspector General Egbetokun. They are asserting that he should retire alongside them, as he has also reached retirement age but has been allowed to continue serving due to the intervention of the President and the National Assembly”, according to one source.

“They also said that every action taken by Egbetokun since last September 4, his official retirement date, is illegal, including, but not limited to, the issuance of retirement letters to them, which they have refused to honour.”

Furthermore, the senior police officers have interpreted the directive to appear before the disciplinary committee in their “working dress” as an acknowledgement by the police authorities that they remain actively on duty.

One source stated that “if he ordered them to arrive in uniform for disciplinary action after being supposedly retired, it implies he acknowledges they are still in service.”

The Fount previously reported that police officers and others were involved in forgery, falsification, and violations of service regulations.

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters has learned that nearly 500 police officers are implicated in a scandal involving forgery, age falsification, and breaches of service protocols. However, some of these officers have quietly retired.

“Others also went to the National Industrial Court on Friday, and the IG’s lawyer promised not to retire them,” one source said.