By John Audu.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has officially sanctioned the retirement of all officers implicated in serious infractions, including forgery, age falsification, and violations of service regulations aimed at extending their tenure beyond the mandatory retirement age.
A police wireless message dated February 10, 2025, addressed to all zonal commands and departments, confirmed the decision made by the Police Service Commission (PSC) during its 1st Extraordinary Meeting of the 6th Management Board. This meeting focused on the regularization of the appointment dates for Cadet Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) and Inspectors.
The memo, referenced as CH:8400/FS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.2/294, stated: “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. INGENPOL firmly directs you to proceed with full implementation of POLSCOM directives as conveyed in MYLET No. CH:8400/FS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.2/292, dated 01/02/2025. This signal supersedes MYSIG No. CH:8400/FS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.2/293 DTO: 051604/02/2025 for your strict compliance. Acknowledge receipt.”
On February 5, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun had halted the retirement of senior police officers who had either served for over 35 years or were above the age of 60. This directive contradicted an earlier communication from Egbetokun, dated February 1, 2025, that instructed the immediate retirement of the affected officers, which included notable figures such as Simon Lough, SAN, Head of the NPF Legal Section, and Benneth Igweh, former Federal Capital Territory Police Commissioner.
The February 1 letter emphasized the importance of implementing the PSC’s decision regarding the retirement of officers who had exceeded the service threshold. It referenced an earlier communication from the PSC dated January 31, 2025, that explicitly stated: “The Commission has approved the immediate retirement of those officers who have spent 35 years in service and those above 60 years of age.”
However, a subsequent police signal dated February 5, 2025, obtained by SaharaReporters, instructed a halt to all actions related to the retirement of these senior officers pending further directives. The signal stated: “POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION DECISION AT ITS 1ST EXTRA ORDINARY MEETING OF THE 6TH MANAGEMENT BOARD ON THE REGULARIZATION OF DATE OF FIRST APPOINTMENT OF CADET ASPS/INSPECTORS FORCE ENTRANTS X REF. MYLET CH:8400/FS/FHQ/AB3/VOL.2/292 DATED 1ST FEBRUARY 2025 X INGENPOL STRONGLY DIRECTS X YOU STAY ACTION ON LET UNDER REF X PENDING FURTHER DIRECTIVE X FOR YOUR STRICT COMPLIANCE X ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT X PLEASE X.”
Sources indicate that this latest directive was issued following an order from President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which instructed the police to cease the retirement of these senior officers. “The Villa told them to stop the retirement. Imagine, all this came after those affected have been given their retirement letters,” a police source revealed.
The implicated officers, based on their enlistment dates, should have retired but remained in service. For example, Simon Asamber Lough was due for retirement on January 8, 2022. Other officers listed include Benneth Chinedu Igweh (January 5, 2023), Akinbayo Olasukami Olasoji, Louis Chike Nwabuwa, Mukar Sule, Adamu Danjuma, Ajao Olusegun, and Iriemi Solomon.
This situation highlights ongoing issues within the Nigeria Police Force regarding adherence to retirement policies and the management of personnel implicated in misconduct.
