Others are Benneth Igweh C., CP Aina Emmanuel A., CP Salama Wakili Abdul, ACP Dakon Philip Sarpiwefa, and Grace O. Ejiofor. The Nigeria Police Force has announced the discharge and retirement of seven senior officers including AIG Idowu Owohunwa and ACP Simon Lough....Read Full Article >>➤
Others are Benneth Igweh C., CP Aina Emmanuel A., CP Salama Wakili Abdul, ACP Dakon Philip Sarpiwefa, and Grace O. Ejiofor.
This was announced in a police wireless message dated March 4, 2025 and sent to zonal commands, state commands, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) among others. It cited the ‘Decisions of the Extra Ordinary Meeting of the Police Service Commission held on Thursday 20th February, 2025.’
It reads, “Grateful be informed that the underlisted senior police officers have been retired from the Force. W.E.F dates indicated against their names. AP/NO. 50645 AIG Idowu Owohunwa, W.E.F X 10/02/2025 X AP/NO 50703 CP Benneth Igweh C. X W.E.F X 01/05/2023 X ΑΡ/ΝΟ 41704 CP Aina Emmanuel A. W.E.F X 10/02/2025 X ΑΡ/ΝΟ 41741 CP Salama Wakili Abdul W.E.F X 26/02/2025 X AP/NO 57917 ACP Simon A. Lough (SAN) W.E.F X 01/08/2022 X AP/NO 57894 ACP Dakon Philip Sarpiwefa, ΑΡ/ΝΟ 42600 ACP Grace O. Ejiofor.”
On Wednesday, SaharaReporters reported that the latest casualty of the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun’s power consolidation was Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Idowu Owohunwa, whom the IGP reportedly saw as an “archenemy” and a threat to his continued stay in office.
Idowu Owohunwa was the AIG in charge of Zone 12 Bauchi.
Sources disclosed that Owohunwa’s retirement letter was already prepared and set to be issued soon after he failed to secure promotion to the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG).
The Police Service Commission (PSC) declined to elevate Owohunwa, paving the way for his removal.
SaharaReporters also reported that concerns were mounting within the Force over the continued stay of Egbetokun in office, despite also being in office beyond the retirement age of 60.
Infractions such as age falsification, violation of service rules led to the forced retirement of several senior officers.
Egbetokun, who officially retired all his coursemates by March 3, 2025, had been filling their positions with new senior officers believed to be loyal to him.
SaharaReporters reported that police insiders had started questioning why the IGP himself remained in office while enforcing strict retirement policies on others.
SaharaReporters learnt that the IGP had confided in several top sources within the presidency that he nearly lost his position if not for the intervention of First Lady Remi Tinubu, to whom he was said to be extremely close.
According to sources within the presidency, Egbetokun confirmed that he narrowly escaped being removed from office due to the backing of President Bola Tinubu’s wife.
“The IGP almost lost his job, but the First Lady intervened,” a senior government source revealed. “Now, he is more confident than ever and is making strategic moves to secure his position.”
SaharaReporters reported on Tuesday that the PSC had approved the appointment of six Deputy Inspectors General of Police to replace those recently forced into retirement by police authorities.
SaharaReporters exclusively reported on Monday that the retired DIGs were Dasuki Galandachi, Ali Ari Muhammed, Rhoda Adetutu Olofu, Jonathan Towuru (representing the South-South geopolitical zone), Suleiman Yusuf, Banji Lawal Badru, and Bala Ciroma.
SaharaReporters exclusively reported on Monday night that the replacements for the retired DIGs would be announced today (Tuesday).
Previously, SaharaReporters also reported that Egbetokun had ordered senior police officers who refused to retire to appear before a disciplinary committee.
PSC Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, on Tuesday, announced the appointment of six new Deputy Inspectors General of Police: Sadiq Idiris Abubakar, Benjamin Nebolisa Okolo, Williams Adebowale, Bzigu Yakubu Kwazi Bali, Idegwu Basil Ukuoma, and Adebola Ayinde Hamzat.
“The IGP is now overjoyed and will eliminate his last ‘enemy’ AIG Idowu AIG Idowu Owohunwa next week as his retirement letter is now ready after he initially succeeded in warding off retirement from the police, even after it was revealed that he forged his age and service records,” a top source said on Wednesday.
“The IGP has made it clear that even if he eventually leaves, he will ensure that none of his fiercest rivals who dangerously lobbied for his position will succeed him.”
Egbetokun’s tenure has been fraught with controversy, with the extension of his tenure by the National Assembly to delay his retirement.
Egbetokun was originally scheduled to retire in September 2024 upon reaching the age of 60. However, the National Assembly amended the Police Act in 2024, guaranteeing a full four-year tenure for the Inspector General of Police, irrespective of the standard civil service retirement age.
Under the revised law, an IGP’s term is counted from the date of appointment, which for Egbetokun was October 31, 2023. Consequently, his tenure was extended until October 31, 2027, enabling him to serve the full four-year term, despite ongoing debates over the amendment.
SaharaReporters had exclusively reported that a mutiny was brewing within the Nigeria Police Force as hundreds of senior officers resisted retirement despite being found to have falsified their birth records.
Sources revealed that some of the officers had been in service for up to 44 years, escalating tensions between IGP Egbetokun and some of them, including Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Galandanchi.
Galandanchi had sought a two-year service extension, citing Egbetokun’s own extension as a precedent, after the IGP was granted an exemption from retirement last year.
However, the extension bid was denied by the police authorities.
Two police signals obtained by SaharaReporters indicated that in February, Egbetokun ordered the replacement of some of the affected officers. Meanwhile, police authorities had fully approved the retirement of all implicated personnel.
Additionally, SaharaReporters reported that the IGP directed the posting and redeployment of officers to replace those found guilty of forgery, age falsification, and other violations of service regulations.
A previously published list included about 467 officers implicated in age falsification, among them Simon Lough, SAN, Benneth Igweh, and several others.
The recent controversy surrounding the police force stems from the forced retirement of many senior officers by the Police Service Commission (PSC). The mass retirements affected several Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs), Assistant Inspectors General (AIGs), and others.
The PSC had issued a directive mandating the retirement of officers who have served for 35 years or reached the age of 60, in line with Public Service Rules.
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