SaharaReporters had earlier published a list of about 467 Nigerian police officers found to have falsified their age and bypassed service regulations.
Simon Lough (SAN), Head of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Legal Unit, is still appearing in court for the police despite an official directive for his retirement following his implication in an age falsification scandal.
Lough was among several officers ordered to retire amid allegations of age falsification within the Nigeria Police Force. The scandal involves findings that that many senior officers manipulated their records to extend their service beyond the legal limit of 35 years or the age of 60.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, had ordered the posting and redeployment of personnel to take over from officers implicated in forgery, age falsification, and circumventing service regulations.
SaharaReporters had earlier published a list of about 467 Nigerian police officers found to have falsified their age and bypassed service regulations.
They include Simon Lough, SAN, Benneth Igweh and many others.
The list consisted of 15 officers on Force Entrants Cadet Inspectors Course 36/2002; Force Entrants Cadet Inspectors Course 35/2000 - 33 officers; Force Entrants Cadet Inspectors Course 34/96 -12 officers; Force Entrants Cadet Inspectors Course 4/94 now Course 33 -24 officers; Force Entrants Cadet ASP Course 21/2002 -14 officers; Force Entrants Cadet ASP Course 20/2000- 48 officers; Force Entrants Cadet ASP Course 19/1996-34 officers; Force Entrants Cadet ASP Course 18/94 -11 officers; Force Entrants Cadet Inspr Course 25/2012- 1 officer; Force Entrants Cadet Inspr Course 31/1990-15 officers; Force Entrants Cadet Inspr Course 1/88- 7 officers; Force Entrants Cadet ASP Course 26/2012 – 5 officers; Force Entrants Cadet Inspector Course 37/2005- 8 officers; Force Entrants Cadet ASP Course 39/2009 – 2 officers; Force Entrants Cadet ASP Course 1/2010 – 5 officers; Force Entrants Cadet Inspector Course 3/92 – 14 officers; Force Entrants Cadet ASP Promotion Course 1\2003 PSC Jos - 209 officers; and a final list of 10 officers.
While hundreds of the police officers were implicated in the scandal involving forgery, age falsification, and bypassing service regulations, some were said to have quietly retired.
SaharaReporters had reported that the Inspector General of Police, Egbetokun, ordered that the senior police officers who refused to retire should appear before a disciplinary committee.
According to the records, Simon Lough should have retired on January 8, 2022, based on his date of enlistment. However, he remains in active service despite the retirement directive.
However, SaharaReporters can report that Lough has continued to represent the Nigerian police in court as the Head of the NPF Legal Unit.
His continued service was confirmed on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja during a case involving a $4,666,234.28 debt linked to the Chief Executive Officer of Lionstone Offshore Services Limited, Amaechi Ndili, his wife, Njide Chizoba Ndili, and Hercules Offshore Nigeria Limited.
Despite the retirement order over the scandal, Lough still appeared as the prosecution counsel representing the Nigerian police in his capacity as Head of the NPF Legal Unit.
The case is being heard by Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe.
Speaking to SaharaReporters about the legality of Lough’s continued service despite the retirement order, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong stated that if Lough has reached the mandatory retirement age or exceeded the required years of service, his remaining in office is both illegal and unethical.
Inibehe said, “I understand that they were made to face a panel. I’m not sure if the panel has reached a decision.
“But if he (Lough) has reached a compulsory retirement age and he is still appearing for the police, that will not only be illegal but unethical.
“Because his capacity to appear as a prosecutor or as a police lawyer is contingent on him being a police officer as a member of the Nigeria Police Force.
“If he loses status as a police officer or if he ceases to serve in the police force, he can no longer represent the police.
“So, the IGP should do the proper thing and ensure that the individuals who are still in service and have been asked to retire because they have reached their retirement age are disengaged from the service.
“They should even be made to refund the salaries and allowances and entitlements they have accumulated while they were in service illegally.”
Inibehe further noted that Lough has no right to continue representing the police in court, even if he was handling the cases before the retirement order over the age falsification scandal. He emphasized that the cases belong to the police, not to Lough personally.
“The cases will be continued by other officers,” he said.