The Nigerian Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has stopped the retirement of all senior police officers who have either exceeded 35 years in service or are above the age of 60.
This followed a directive from the Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidency, multiple sources told SaharaReporters on Wednesday night.
Egbetokun had earlier in a letter dated February 1, 2025 and signed on his behalf by CP Bode Akinbamilowo, Deputy Force Secretary asked the affected officers to go on immediate retirement.
These include Simon Lough, SAN, the Head of the NPF Legal Section and Benneth Igweh, a former Federal Capital Territory Police Commissioner.
The letter is titled ‘Re: Police Service Commission Decision At Its 1st Extra Ordinary Meeting Of The 6th Management Board On The Regularisation Of Date Of First Appointment Of Cadet ASPs/Inspectors Force Entrants.’
It had read, “Attached letter No. CH: 8400.IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.17/90 dates 31st January, 2025 with its attachments received from the Inspector General of Police, Force Headquarters Abuja in respect of the above underlined subject refers.
“I am to convey the directive of the Inspector General of Police that you ensure comprehensive implementation of the decision with emphasis on paragraphs 3 and 4 of the attachment letter under reference.”
The decision of the PSC referred to in the letter was earlier communicated to the IGP in a letter dated January 31, 2025 and signed by Nnamani Onyemuche, Secretary to the PSC.
Paragraphs 3 and 4 to be given emphasis read: “Accordingly, the Commission at its 1st extraordinary meeting of the 6th Management Board held on Friday 31st January 2025 has approved the immediate retirement of those officers who have spent 35 years in service and those above 60 years of age.
“Any omission discovered subsequently on this issue also falls within this approval.”
Paragraph 5 reads: Please implement, inform the affected officers and make replacement for the vacancies thereafter immediately and forward to the commission for its consideration and approval.”
However, a police signal dated February 5, 2025, and exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters revealed another directive from Egbetokun, putting all actions specified in his February 1, 2025 letter on hold.
The signal reads, “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 ABOVE FOR YOUR STRICT COMPLIANCE X ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT X PLEASE X.”
A source told SaharaReporters that the new directive by the police chief followed an order from the Tinubu presidency.
“They have stopped the retirement of these senior officers. The order came from the Villa. The Villa told them to stop the retirement. Imagine, all this came after those affected have been given their retirement letters. This new signal from the IGP came today that the action should be put on hold,” a police source said.
These police officers have been implicated in forgery, falsification, and bypassing service regulations.
SaharaReporters previously reported that the following individuals, based on their enlistment dates, should have retired but remain in service: Simon Asamber Lough, who should have retired on January 8, 2022.
Others listed include Benneth Chinedu Igweh (January 5, 2023), Akinbayo Olasukami Olasoji, Louis Chike Nwabuwa, Mukar Sule, Adamu Danjuma, Ajao Olusegun, and Iriemi Solomon.
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