Police Showdown: Senior Officers Accuse IGP Egbetokun Of Illegal Actions, Threaten Rebellion

A retirement crisis is escalating within the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) as six senior officers accused of age falsification and breaching service regulations are demanding that Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun resign alongside them.

The officers—Idowu Owohunwa, Simon Lough (SAN), Benneth Igweh, Aina Emmanuel, Salama Wakili Abdul, and Adepoju Olugbenga—have refused to comply with retirement directives, arguing that Egbetokun, who has also exceeded the mandatory retirement age, should step down as well.

Egbetokun had ordered the six officers, all over 60 years old or having served more than 35 years, to appear before the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) at the Force Headquarters in Abuja between Monday, February 10, and Thursday, February 13, 2025. The FDC is expected to consider demotion or dismissal as possible outcomes.

However, sources within the police told SaharaReporters that the officers are contesting the legality of Egbetokun’s actions, asserting that any decisions made by him since his official retirement date of September 4, 2024, are invalid.

“They’re insisting that if he’s forcing them to retire, he must also retire, as he has exceeded the retirement threshold but remains in office thanks to presidential and National Assembly intervention,” a police source revealed.

The officers further argue that all actions taken by Egbetokun since his retirement date, including issuing retirement notices, are unlawful and have thus refused to comply.

Adding to the dispute, the officers highlight the directive to appear in uniform as evidence that they are still in active service.

“If he’s asking them to report in full working dress after supposedly retiring them, it’s an admission that they’re still in service,” another source argued.

The controversy extends beyond these six officers, with nearly 500 police personnel reportedly implicated in age falsification and violations of service rules. While some have opted for quiet retirements, others have filed legal challenges at the National Industrial Court.

Sources indicate that Egbetokun’s legal team has reassured certain officers that they will not be forcibly retired.