Justice Halilu Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has rejected a request by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for arrest warrants against five retired senior police officers accused of falsifying their ages to unlawfully extend their service in the Nigeria Police Force.
The IGP had filed a 14-count charge of forgery and age falsification against former AIG Idowu Owohunwa, former CPs Benneth Igweh and Ukachi Peter Opara, retired DCP Obo Ukam Obo, and retired ACP Simon A. Lough, SAN. However, when the defendants failed to appear in court for arraignment, police counsel Ezekiel Rimamasonte urged the judge to issue bench warrants for their arrest.
Defence counsel, Terkaa Aondo, SAN, opposed the application, arguing that the defendants were never properly served with the charges. He noted that the prosecution merely sent the charges via WhatsApp, which is not valid service in criminal cases that require personal delivery. Aondo maintained that the police have the resources to ensure the defendants’ appearance, citing their past ability to arrest high-profile figures like Nnamdi Kanu and Omoyele Sowore.
In his ruling, Justice Yusuf sided with the defence, holding that criminal charges must be personally served on the accused before any warrant can be issued. He stressed that the prosecution, having earlier granted the defendants bail on self-recognizance, bears the responsibility of ensuring their appearance in court.
The judge therefore refused the IGP’s application for arrest warrants, instructing the prosecution to properly serve the defendants and bring them to court, while also directing the defence to secure their attendance. The case was adjourned to November 17, 2025, for arraignment.
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