Legal And Police Chiefs Under Fire: Age Scandal Forces AIG And Legal Head To  Resist Retirement

Sources at the Force Headquarters in Abuja have revealed that both officers remain in their positions, ignoring directives to step down.

This comes after the retirement of at least seven Deputy Inspectors General, who were unable to secure extensions to their tenure. The officers who retired on Monday included DIGs Galandachi, Ali Ari Muhammed, Rhoda Adetutu Olofu, Jonathan Towuru (representing the South-South geopolitical zone), Suleiman Yusuf, Banji Lawal Badru, and Bala Ciroma.

A senior source told SaharaReporters: “DIG Ali Ari Muhammed, Jonathan Towuru, Rhoda Adetutu Olofu, and Dasuki Galandanchi were asked by the IGP to leave a meeting today (Monday). DIG FCID (Federal Criminal Investigation Department) Towuru honorably stepped down and did not return after a senior officer’s retreat in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Banji Lawal Badru also and Bala Ciroma have stepped down, with their replacements to be announced by the Police Service Commission.”

Simon Lough, head of the Nigeria Police Force Legal Unit, has continued to appear in court for the police despite being ordered to retire due to age falsification allegations. He was one of several officers instructed to retire amid investigations into fraudulent record alterations intended to extend their service beyond the legally mandated retirement age or the 35-year service limit.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, had previously issued orders for personnel redeployments and replacements for officers involved in the scandal, including those implicated in forgery and service regulation violations.

SaharaReporters had earlier published a list of approximately 467 Nigerian police officers tied to the scandal, including Simon Lough, SAN, Benneth Igweh, and many others, some of whom opted for quiet retirement.

Despite the IGP’s orders, certain officers, including Lough, have refused to retire and were subsequently mandated to appear before a disciplinary panel. According to official records, Lough was due for retirement on January 8, 2022, based on his enlistment date, but he has continued to serve actively.

His ongoing presence in the force was confirmed on February 25 and 26, 2025, at the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja, where he represented the police in a case involving a $4,666,234.28 debt dispute concerning the CEO of Lionstone Offshore Services Limited, Amaechi Ndili, his wife, Njide Chizoba Ndili, and Hercules Offshore Nigeria Limited. Despite the age falsification scandal, Lough continued to serve as prosecution counsel for the police during the court hearing led by Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe.