Court declines arrest of ex-senior cops accused of falsifying age

Union of Retired Police Officers under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) has resolved to undertake a peaceful protest at the National Assembly over the payment of pension emoluments.
 
In a statement by the chairman of the Kaduna State chapter, CSP Mannir Lawal Zaria (rtd), the union lamented the unbearable conditions faced by members.
 
Zaria cited widespread poverty, lack of access to healthcare, inability to afford basic feeding, children being withdrawn from schools, and increasing deaths among retired personnel.
 
According to the union, representatives from the Kaduna chapter, alongside delegates from 35 other states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will converge next Monday on the National Assembly to drive home their grievances.
 
The resolution followed a virtual meeting held on Monday, September 22, 2025. The party revisited the long-standing demand for the exit of the Nigeria Police Force from the CPS.
 
Zaria observed that for more than 15 years, the union has consistently petitioned the government, staged protests, and submitted memoranda to lawmakers to push for the exit.
 
He recalled that the agitation had led to three public hearings, during which lawmakers were presented with evidence comparing the meagre pensions received by retired police officers under the CPS with the more robust benefits enjoyed by their counterparts in the military and the Department of State Services (DSS).
 
“Despite lawmakers being fully aware of these economic hardships, no meaningful improvements have been made,” Zaria stated.

MEANWHILE, Justice Halilu Yusuf of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has turned down the request of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to issue warrants against a former Assistant Inspector General of Police, two erstwhile Commissioners of Police and three others accused of falsifying their age to unlawfully remain in service.
   
The IGP, billed to put the five former senior police officers on trial before the judge on charges of forgery and age falsification yesterday, applied for an order to effect the arrest of the accused persons when he discovered that they were not in court for arraignment.

The five ex-senior police officers are: AIG Idowu Owohunwa (rtd), CP Benneth Igweh (rtd), CP Ukachi Peter Opara (rtd), DCP Obo Ukam Obo (rtd) and ACP Simon A. Lough, SAN  (rtd), and were listed as defendants in a 14-count charge brought against them by the IGP.
 
Represented by a police lawyer, Ezekiel Rimamasonte, the IGP expressed displeasure that the five retired senior officers were absent in court despite being served with the charges.
 
Rimamasonte, an AIG, subsequently requested Justice Yusuf to issue warrants for the police to arrest the accused persons and bring them to court for trial. His request was, however, opposed by Terkaa Aondo (SAN), who accused the IGP of not serving the defendants with the charges as required by law.
 
After entertaining arguments of both lawyers, the presiding judge thereafter adjourned the matter to November 17, 2025, for arraignment of the defendants.