The head of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), AIG Idowu Owohunwa, AIG Abdul Yari, and five other senior police officers are accused of engaging in the unethical practice of backdating their history records. As a result, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has ordered an immediate and comprehensive investigation into their actions.
This was stated in a memo signed by Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Force Secretary, AIG Olofu Rhoda, and dated January 13, 2025, and submitted to the head of the IGP Monitoring Unit.
AIG Abdul Yari, AIG Idowu Owohunwa, AIG Ben Igwe, CP Peter Ukachi Opara, CP Obo Obo Ukani, DCP Simon Asamber Lough (SAN), and ACP Akpan Brown were found to have backdated their historical records, according to the document that was exclusively accessed by the media on Saturday.
After receiving a letter from the Integrity Youth Alliance, Abuja, a civic organization, on January 6, 2025, the IGP ordered their investigation.
The memo stated, “The Inspector-General of Police directs you to investigate and furnish findings not later than Monday 20th January 2025, please.”
“It is pertinent to note that “Force Entrant” is a scheme by the Nigeria Police Force where deserving officers with requisite educational records are upgraded to a higher cadre after a brief training period at the Police Academy or at any approved Police College, and as such, it is not a fresh appointment.
“Essentially, this implies that the service duration of such officers continues counting and does not automatically restart.
“Therefore, according to the Public Service Rules (7 Rule 020810 of Chapter two), the under-listed, having served in the public service and received salaries as required by law, cannot remain in service beyond the legally permitted period.
“Regarding our letter dated 30th December 2024, below are some of the names of police personnel who engaged in the unethical practice of backdating their history records: AIG Abdui Yari, AIG Idowu Owohunwa, AIG Ben Igwe, CP Peter Ukachi Opara, CP Obo Obo Ukani, DCP Simon Asamber Lough (SAN) and ACP Akpan Brown.”
North-Central Nigerian AIG Shuaya’u Lafia Abdulyari was charged with falsifying his retirement paperwork in order to prolong his term in office.
Discrepancies in Abdulyari’s official documents have cast doubt on the veracity of his service record, according to sources at Force Headquarters who spoke to the media.
The Nigeria Police Force approved Abdulyari’s suspension from service, effective January 9, 2025, based on the findings.
In a wireless message signed by the Force Secretary and sent to all departments, units, and commands, Force Headquarters cautioned the officer to strictly follow the rules and regulations governing the conduct of police officers on suspension while his case is being decided by the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC).
Titled: “Suspension and Interdiction AP. NΟ. 41804 ΑIG Abduyari Shuaya’u Lafia,”The Police Service Commission (POLSCOM) decision, which was conveyed in a letter dated January 9, 2025, and in compliance with PSR 100406, 2021 as amended, was cited by the police authorities.
Additionally, the police authorities instructed the Assistant Inspector General of Police Budget and Payment to make sure that the proper measures are taken to immediately stop paying him.
“As of November 8, 2017, Yari’s retirement date was recorded as January 1, 2025.
“However, on July 11, 2024, his retirement date had shifted to December 31, 2025,” the source said.
Abdulyari is certain that Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police, won’t reveal the anomalies, according to another person who talked to the media.
According to the insider, the police force has a culture of keeping quiet about these kinds of issues. Further examination of Abdulyari’s service record, however, showed that he missed work from July 18 to October 23, 2017, while serving as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) under Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, who was then Inspector General of Police.
“Therefore, he went against the Public Service Rules of Nigeria 2008 Sections 030301(m), 030301(o), 30402(e), 030402(t), 030402(w), which bordered with absent from duty without leave, insubordination, refusal to take or carry out lawful instruction from superior officer, sabotage, and any other act becoming of a public officer in accordance to Public Service Rules of Nigeria 2008 as amended.
“This contravenes Nigeria’s Public Service Rules, which mandate strict adherence to duty schedules.
“Despite receiving an official query dated October 20, 2017, from the Commandant of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano, regarding his absence, Yari allegedly ignored the directive without consequence,” the source stated.
In an intentional attempt to compromise the force’s credibility, the senior Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) falsified his service history by manipulating the date of his recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force.
According to the Nigeria Police Staff Lists, the ambitious AIG purposefully lied to damage the reputation of the Nigeria Police Force by manipulating the date on his admission history to falsely represent a lengthier service history with the force.
Findings indicate that during his pursuit of the position of Inspector-General of Police, the same AIG, Abdulyari, was embroiled in a number of scandals.
According to a source who spoke to SaharaReporters, Abdulyari did not give explanations for his actions in quadruplicate copies within 48 hours, as required by Rule 030302 of the Public Service Rules (2008, as modified).
“Consequently, his actions were not reported to the then Inspector General of Police for appropriate sanctions, leading to his suspension by the Police Service Commission on November 14, 2017.
AIG Abdulyari has been pleading with the Police Service Commission to grant him a soft landing because a petition from the Integrity Youth Alliance, an NGO, is giving him a lot of trouble, a police headquarters source informed the media.
According to the source, “The AIG is really preparing to be the next DIG from the North Central after several changes in his entry and retirement records.”
“I only hope IGP Egbetokun will maintain professionalism and an unbiased stand on this AIG Yari,” the source added.
“It is important to note that Force Entrant is a scheme by the Nigeria Police Force designed to upgrade deserving officers with the requisite educational qualifications to a higher cadre,” Danjuma Lamido, the spokesperson for the Integrity Youth Alliance, told the media.
“This is done following a brief training period at the Police Academy or any approved Police College. As such, it does not constitute a fresh appointment.”
Danjuma said, “Essentially, this implies that the service duration of such officers continues counting and does not automatically restart.
“Therefore, according to the Public Service Rules (7 Rule 020810 of Chapter Two), AIG Abdul Yari, having served in the public service and received salaries as required by law, cannot remain in service beyond the legally permitted period.”
Danjuma pointed out that this willful act of dishonesty casts doubt on the veracity of the information supplied by all police officers and compromises the integrity of the Nigeria Police Force.
The organization demanded that the Inspector General of Police enforce Public Service Rules, namely Rule 020810 of Public Service Rules (PSR) Chapter Two (2). (i) All service grades must retire at the age of sixty or thirty-five years of pensionable service, whichever comes first. (ii) After reaching the retirement age of sixty or thirty-five years of pensionable service, whichever comes first, no officer may continue to serve.
“We trust the Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of IGP Egbetokun will maintain a culture of honesty and transparency within the Nigeria Police, and instances of dishonest behaviour must be dealt with promptly and decisively,” Danjuma added.
However, DIG Ede Ayuba, who retired from the Nigerian police on October 21, 2024, was succeeded by Ari Mohammed Ali, the current DIG from the North Central.
