Nigerian Police Legal Head Ehiede Accused Of Falsifying Records As Predecessor Simon Lough, Others Face Forgery Charges

Safe The Soul Transparency and Eagle Eyes International Foundation, two non-governmental organisations, have formally petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, calling for an investigation into allegations against CP Ohiozoba Oyakhire Ehiede, the current Head of Legal at the Nigeria Police Force.

The petitions accuse CP Ehiede of falsifying his service records.

One of the petitions, signed by the foundation’s Secretary, Mr. Josia Agim, and presented to journalists in Kaduna, accused CP Ehiede of altering his date of birth from April 18, 1965, to September 18, 1965, with the intent to postpone his retirement.

Similarly, in a separate petition signed by the National Coordinator of the NGO, Mr. Bolaji Mustapha, and shared with journalists in Abuja, it was alleged that CP Ehiede falsified his service records and altered his date of birth to delay his retirement.

According to Agim, CP Ehiede allegedly changed his date of birth in an attempt to postpone his retirement. This action is said to constitute a serious breach of rule 100402(a) of the Public Service Rules 202.

The foundation’s investigation reportedly found that in November 2017, CP Ehiede’s official records indicated his date of birth as April 18, 1965, setting his retirement date for April 18, 2025.

These details remained unchanged as of August 2023. However, following his promotion to Commissioner of Police in August 2024, the records were allegedly altered to reflect a new date of birth—September 18, 1965—thereby affecting his retirement timeline.

“This inconsistency is a serious issue, especially given the recent actions taken against other officers implicated in similar acts, such as AIG Abdul Yari and CP Aina Emmanuel,” Agim said.

He therefore called on the Inspector General of Police to launch a thorough investigation into the allegations and to ensure that CP Ehiede is held responsible for any wrongdoing. The secretary stressed that accountability must apply to all members of the Nigeria Police Force, regardless of rank, to preserve the force’s integrity.

He expressed hope that appropriate actions, including a full investigation and prosecution if necessary, would be taken to properly address the issue and help restore public trust in the Police Force.

“This change extended his retirement date from April 18, 2025, to September 18, 2025,” Mustapha said.

He asserted that this act constitutes a serious breach of Rule 100402(a) of the Public Service Rules 2021 and urged for a thorough but discreet investigation into the issue.

Mustapha also pointed out that although the police have disciplined other officers for comparable violations, Ehiede’s role as head of the legal department makes his alleged misconduct especially troubling.

On September 10, 2024, SaharaReporters reported that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, officially promoted eight Commissioners of Police to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG). Additionally, 15 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCs) were elevated to the substantive rank of Commissioner of Police (CP).

A statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, revealed that Egbetokun directed the posting of the newly promoted officers to various commands and formations across the country.

Among those promoted from Deputy Commissioner of Police to Commissioner of Police was CP Ohiozoba Oyakhire Ehiede.

Notably, Ehiede’s predecessor as Head of Police Force Legal Department, Simon Lough (SAN), along with several other senior officers, had been forced out of the police force following a scandal involving forgery, court deception, and age falsification.

On Saturday, SaharaReporters disclosed that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has taken legal action by filing a 14-count criminal charge against several retired senior police officers. Among those charged is retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Lough, the former Head of the Legal Department of the Nigeria Police Force.

Also named in the suit are former Assistant Inspector-General of Police Idowu Owohunwa, as well as former Commissioners of Police Benneth Igweh and Ukachi Peter Opara, all facing allegations of age falsification and forgery.

The charges were filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja under suit number CR/353/25. Retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Obo Ukam Obo is also listed as a defendant in the case.

Several other suspects believed to be involved in the alleged offenses are yet to be apprehended and remain at large.

According to the court filings, the accused, all former members of the Nigeria Police Force enlisted around 1999, are alleged to have forged official police signals and used them to manipulate their records.

One such document with signal number DTO 221535/05/89, reportedly issued from NIGPOL Admin Lagos to the Commandant of the Police Academy in Kaduna, was also cited as a key piece of forged evidence used in the alleged scheme.

The Inspector-General accused the defendants of conspiracy, forgery, and unlawful alteration of official records, among other offences.

Some Of The Charges Filed By Police Authorities

Some of the charges read: "That you AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Rtd) (2) CP Benneth Igweh (Rtd) (3) CP Ukachi Peter Opara (Rtd) (4) DCP Obo Ukam Obo (Rtd) (5) ACP Simon A. Lough SAN (Rtd) and others who are now at large being members of force entrants of the Nigeria Police Force on or about 1999 till date in FCT Abuja which is within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed the offence of conspiracy with intent to commit criminal offence punishable under Section 97 (1) (2) of the Penal Code Law,

"That you AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Rtd) (2) CP Benneth Igweh (Rtd) (3) CP Ukachi Peter Opara (Rtd) (4) DCP Obo Ukam Obo (Rtd) (5) ACP Simon A. Lough SAN (Rtd) and others who are now at large being members of force entrants of the Nigeria Police Force on or about 2019 in FCT Abuja which is within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed offence in that, you falsified and also use as genuine signal of the Nigeria Police Force, signal No. DTO 221535/05/89 in the name of the NIGPOL Admin Lagos to Compol Academy Kaduna and hereby committed offence punishable under Section 366 of the Penal Code Law.

"That you AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Rtd) (2) CP Benneth Igweh (Rtd) (3) CP Ukachi Peter Opara (Rtd) (4) DCP Obo Ukam Obo (Rtd) (5) ACP Simon A. Lough SAN (Rtd) and others who are now at large being members of force entrants of the Nigeria Police Force on or about 2019 in FCT Abuja which is within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court to wit, falsified signal in the name of the Nigeria Police Force No: DTO:261340/061/89 Compol Admin Sokoto which you dishonestly committed and thereby committed the offence which is punishable under Section 366 of the Penal Code Law.

"That you AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Rtd) (2) CP Benneth Igweh (Rtd) (3) CP Ukachi Peter Opara (Rtd) (4) DCP Obo Ukam Obo (Rtd) and others who are now at large who are members of force entrants of the Nigeria Police Force on or about 22nd day of November, 2019 at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria Garki Abuja to wit, dishonestly used as genuine signal which you falsified No: DTO: 221535/05/89 and No: DTO:261340/061/89 in the case of ACP Chinedu Ambrose Emengaha & Ors -Vs- P.S.C. & 2 Ors, suit No: NICN/ABJ/354/2019 with which you deceived and obtained judgment against the Nigeria Police Force and thereby committed offence punishable under Section 161 of the Penal Code Law.

"That you ACP Simon A. Lough SAN (Rtd) and others who are now at large being members of force entrants of the Nigeria Police Force on or about 22nd day of November, 2019 at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria Garki Abuja to wit, dishonestly and fraudulently used as genuine signal which you falsified No: DTO: 221535/05/89 and No: DTO:261340/061/89 in the case of ACP Sunday Okuguni & Ors -Vs- PSC & 1 or Suit No: NICN/ABJ/353/2019 for and on behalf of course 20 force entrants of the Nigeria Police Force, which you deceived and obtained judgment against the Nigeria Police Force and thereby committed the offence punishable under Section 161 of the Penal Code Law.

"That you ACP Simon A. Lough SAN (Rtd) on or about 25 day of March, 2025 in FCT Abuja which is within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly and fraudulently depose to process of court in the case of AIG Idowu Owahunwa & 2 Or-Vs- PSC & 7 Ors, suit No: NICN/ABJ/88/2025A that you have only served for 25 years in the Nigeria Police Force, knowing that, you are lying and also dishonest when you enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on 1st August, 1987 and thereby committed offence punishable under Section 158(1) of the Penal Code Law.

"That you AIG Idowu Owohunwa (Rtd) on or about December, 2024 in Abuja which is within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and with intent to remain serving in the Nigeria Police Force against the provision of the public Service Rules of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Dishonestly falsified and submitted to the Nigeria Police Force Record, a Declaration of age dated 4th April, 1990 Kogi State of Nigeria that you are born on 20th July, 1970 and thereby committed offence punishable under Section 366 of the Penal Code Law.

"That you CP Benneth Igwe (Rtd) on or about December, 2024 in Abuja which is within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, to wit committed the offence of age falsification in that you enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on 1st May, 1988 on record that you were born on 7th October, 1964. And investigation revealed that you altered your age to be that you are born on 7th October, 1968 and when you know you enlisted into the Nigeria Police in 1996. You thereby committed offence punishable under Section 366 of the Penal Code Law

"That you ACP Simon A. Lough SAN (Rtd) on or about July, 2022 in FCT Abuja which is within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed offence of falsifying your age in order to remain serving in the Nigeria Police Force in that, when you enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on 1 August, 1987 on record, you were born on 14 May, 1967. You dishonestly and fraudulently altered and fake your age to be 14th May, 1969 against Public Service Rule of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and also knowing that you have retired but remain in office beyond 1 August, 2022 till January, 2025 and thereby committed offence punishable under Section 161 of the Penal Code Law.”

On March 6, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that the Nigeria Police Force announced the discharge and retirement of seven senior officers, including Assistant Commissioner of Police Simon Lough. This decision was communicated through a police wireless message dated March 4, 2025, which was circulated to zonal and state commands, as well as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant agencies.

The announcement referenced the decisions made during the Extraordinary Meeting of the Police Service Commission held on Thursday, February 20, 2025.

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