Scandal Rocks Police Force: Officers Forced Into Retirement Over Forgery, Age Falsification

The Nigeria Police Force has officially sanctioned the retirement of all officers implicated in forgery, age falsification, and breaches of service regulations aimed at unlawfully extending their tenure beyond the mandatory retirement limits.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

A police wireless message dated February 10, 2025, sent to all zonal commands and departments, referenced the decision made by the Police Service Commission (PSC) during its 1st Extraordinary Meeting of the 6th Management Board. The decision focused on the regularization of first appointment dates for Cadet ASPs and Inspector force entrants.

The memo, with reference number CH:8400/FS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.2/294, ordered the complete enforcement of the PSC’s directives, stating: “Re: Police Service Commission decision at its 1st Extraordinary Meeting of the 6th Management Board on the regularization of date of first appointment of Cadet ASPs/Inspectors force entrants X INGENPOL firmly directs you to proceed with full implementation of POLSCOM directives.”

This directive comes after an earlier intervention by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, who had initially paused the retirement of senior officers who had surpassed either 35 years of service or 60 years of age.

A letter dated February 1, 2025, signed by CP Bode Akinbamilowo, Deputy Force Secretary, on behalf of the IGP, instructed the affected officers—including Simon Lough, SAN, Head of the NPF Legal Section, and Benneth Igweh, former FCT Police Commissioner—to proceed with immediate retirement.

PSC Issues Final Directive on Retirement

The PSC’s final directive was conveyed to the IGP in a letter dated January 31, 2025, signed by PSC Secretary Nnamani Onyemuche. The directive, highlighted in paragraphs 3 and 4, stated: “The Commission, at its 1st Extraordinary Meeting of the 6th Management Board held on Friday, January 31, 2025, has approved the immediate retirement of officers who have completed 35 years of service and those over 60 years of age.”

It added, “Any future discoveries regarding similar omissions will also fall under this directive.”

Paragraph 5 instructed: “Kindly implement this decision, notify the affected officers, fill the resulting vacancies immediately, and forward the replacements to the Commission for review and approval.”