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January 28, 2025
According to the memo exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters, DCP Simon Asamber Lough (SAN); AIG Abdul Yari; AIG Idowu Owohunwa; AIG Ben Igwe; CP Peter Ukachi Opara; CP Obo Obo Ukani; and ACP Akpan Brown, engaged in the unethical practice of backdating their history records.
Over 300 police officers have been implicated in an age falsification scandal within the Nigeria Police Force, SaharaReporters has learned.
SaharaReporters recently reported that a high-profile investigation, involving several senior officers, was underway, implicating Simon Lough, SAN, the Head of the NPF Legal Section.
Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun had ordered an immediate and comprehensive probe into allegations of falsified and backdated records.
Simon Lough, SAN, is among the prominent officers under investigation for allegedly altering historical records.
The Head of INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), AIG Idowu Owohunwa, AIG Abdul Yari, and some other senior police officers were also found to have engaged in the unethical practice of backdating their history records.
This was contained in a memo sent to the head of the IGP Monitoring Unit, dated January 13, 2025 and signed by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Force Secretary, AIG Olofu Rhoda.
According to the memo exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters, DCP Simon Asamber Lough (SAN); AIG Abdul Yari; AIG Idowu Owohunwa; AIG Ben Igwe; CP Peter Ukachi Opara; CP Obo Obo Ukani; and ACP Akpan Brown, engaged in the unethical practice of backdating their history records.
Sources have informed SaharaReporters that Simon Lough, Head of Chambers in the Legal Section of the Nigeria Police Force, along with AIG Ben Igwe, Owohunwa, and others implicated in the age falsification scandal, will be quietly retired by police authorities.
“There are over 300 senior police officers caught in age falsification scandal. The police will quietly retire Simon Lough, Ben Igwe, Idowu Owohunwa and others caught in age falsification scandal,” a top police source said.
According to sources, Igwe and Lough have spent 45 years in the Force.
“Igwe is over 70 years old and he is still in the Force. Idowu Owohunwa ought to have retired officially this year but he altered his records to push it to 2029,” one of the sources said.
However, as for AIG Lafia Abdulyari, he will be demoted to Superintendent of Police (SP), SaharaReporters learned.
Meanwhile, they are all required to repay the funds they received for the additional years they served in the Force beyond their official retirement age.
The investigation ordered by the police IG followed a letter dated January 6, 2025 to that effect by a civic group, the Integrity Youth Alliance, Abuja.
Mr Ikechukwu Ani the spokesperson for the Police Service Commission (PSC), however, said he had no information about it.
"I don't have any information on that. Maybe I will ask questions but for now, I don't have any information on that," he said.
BACKGROUND
On July 23, 2023, SaharaReporters reported how a document it had exclusively obtained showed that Lough was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on January 8, 1987, and should have retired from service on January 8, 2022, after 35 years of active service.
This contradicts the claim made by the police that Lough was enlisted as a Cadet in 2000.
A police statement issued by Frank Mba, then Force Public Relations Officer to celebrate Lough for becoming a Senior Advocate of Nigeria on December 8, 2021, had said, “Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Simon Asamber Lough, the Head of Chambers, Legal Section of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has been conferred with the prestigious and covetous rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
“The elevation of the Officer is on the heels of his outstanding contribution to the development of law in Nigeria, in addition to his enviable feats in the legal profession. He was sworn in today, 8th December, 2021 by the Chief Justice of Nigeria following recommendations and approval by the Legal Practitioners' Privileges Committee (LPPC).
“ACP Simon Lough, a Police prosecutor par excellence, was appointed as a cadet officer (ASP) into the service of the Nigeria Police Force in the year 2000. Twenty-one (21) years down the line in Public Service, ACP Lough has served in various departments of the Force including the legal section and held national positions on implementing legal policies for the country.”
However, in an interview he had with Adekunle Olanipekun, the immediate past Chairman of Young Lawyers Forum, DCP Lough said he was called to the bar on January 1, 2001.
Meanwhile, according to the legal section general nominal roll (Federal Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department), Abuja, obtained by SaharaReporters, Lough, whose date of birth reads May 14, 1969, has January 1, 1987, recorded as his date of enlistment and January 1, 2022, as his date of retirement.
Going by this, Lough has served as a policeman for three years beyond his expected date of retirement.
According to the Nominal Roll for Cadet ASP (Force Entrants) for Cadet ASP Course 20/2000-2001 at Police Staff College in Jos, Plateau State, obtained by SaharaReporters, Lough’s former rank was listed as Sergeant on Grade Level 05.
Also, SaharaReporters obtained letters dated July 10, 2023, addressed to the Inspector General of Police and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission to explain why Lough was still in service 18 months after he was due to retire from the Force.
The letters were written and signed by the MD/CEO of Citadel Oracle Concept Limited, Joseph Benjamin and received at the Force headquarters in Abuja on July 18, 2023.
Titled, ‘Request For Information About The Records Of DCP Simon Lough, Enlisted With Force No: 57917,’ the letter reads, “We write as empowered by the Freedom of Information Act 2011 to seek information/clarification that the above officer with force number 57917 was enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force on the 8th January 1987 and should have retired on 8th January 2022 after 35 years of active service.
“Kindly furnish us on whose authority he has remained in the public service as a policeman in the last 18 months.”
According to the Public Service Rules; 7 Rule 020810 of Chapter two (2) of the Public Service Rules (PSR), “The compulsory retirement age for all grades in the Service shall be 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service whichever is earlier.”
“No officer shall be allowed to remain in service after attaining the retirement age of 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service, whichever is earlier,” the rule book also states.
Similarly, AIG Shuaya’u Lafia Abdulyari, an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) from Nigeria's North-Central region, has been accused of altering his retirement records to extend his tenure in office.
Sources at the Force Headquarters told SaharaReporters that discrepancies in Abdulyari's official documents have raised doubts about the integrity of his service record.
SaharaReporters previously reported that the police had approved the suspension of Abdulyari from duty with effect from January 9, 2025.
In a wireless message addressed to all departments, units and commands, signed by the Force Secretary, the Force Headquarters warned the officer to adhere strictly to the rules and regulations governing the conduct of police officers on suspension accordingly, pending the determination of his case by the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC).
Titled: "Suspension and Interdiction AP. NΟ. 41804 ΑIG Abduyari Shuaya'u Lafia,’ the police authorities cited the decision of the Police Service Commission (POLSCOM) which was communicated in its letter dated January 9, 2025 and in accordance with PSR 100406, 2021 as amended.
The police authorities further directed the Assistant Inspector General of Police Budget and Payment to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to stop his salary immediately.
"As of November 8, 2017, Yari's retirement date was recorded as January 1, 2025.
"However, on July 11, 2024, his retirement date had shifted to December 31, 2025," a police source said.
However, further scrutiny of Abdulyari’s service history revealed that during his tenure as Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in 2017, under then-Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, he absented himself from duty between July 18 and October 23, 2017.
"Therefore, he went against the Public Service Rules of Nigeria 2008 Sections 030301(m), 030301(o), 30402(e), 030402(t), 030402(w), which bordered on absent from duty without leave, insubordination, refusal to take or carry out lawful instruction from superior officer, sabotage, and any other act becoming of a public officer in accordance to Public Service Rules of Nigeria 2008 as amended.
"This contravenes Nigeria’s Public Service Rules, which mandate strict adherence to duty schedules.
"Despite receiving an official query dated October 20, 2017, from the Commandant of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano, regarding his absence, Yari allegedly ignored the directive without consequence," the source stated.
The Nigeria Police Staff List asserted that the ambitious AIG manipulated the date on his entry history to inaccurately reflect a longer service history with the Force.
SaharaReporters learnt that the same AIG, Abdulyari, has been involved in several controversies in his bid to become the Inspector General of Police.
Meanwhile, in accordance with Rule 030302 of the Public Service Rules (2008, as amended), a source told SaharaReporters that Abdulyari failed to provide explanations, in quadruplicate copies, within 48 hours regarding his conduct.
"Consequently, his actions were not reported to the then Inspector General of Police for appropriate sanctions, leading to his suspension by the Police Service Commission on November 14, 2017.
A source from the police headquarters told SaharaReporters that AIG Abdulyari has been lobbying the Police Service Commission to give him a soft-landing as a petition from an NGO, Integrity Youth Alliance, is really giving him sleepless nights.
The source said, “The AIG is really preparing to be the next DIG from the North Central after several changes in his entry and retirement records.”
"I only hope IGP Egbetokun will maintain professionalism and an unbiased stand on this AIG Yari,” the source added.
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