By George Ozalla
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has dismissed reports claiming that the National Industrial Court of Nigeria ordered the immediate reinstatement of some senior police officers recently retired over alleged age falsification.
According to a press statement signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, and issued on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, the Commission said the report by Sahara Reporters dated October 2, 2025, was misleading and did not accurately reflect the content of the court judgment delivered on September 30, 2025.
The online medium had reported that the court directed the PSC and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to reinstate 196 senior officers from Cadet ASP Force Courses 18, 19, and 20, including top-ranking officers such as AIG Idowu Owohunwa, CP Benneth Igweh, and DCP Simon Lough (SAN). The report claimed the officers had been retired in March 2025 following an alleged age falsification scandal.
However, the PSC clarified that the judgment in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/28/2025: ACP Chinedu Ambrose Emengaha & 7 Ors vs Police Service Commission & 2 Ors delivered by Hon. Justice R. B. Haastrup did not order the reinstatement of any officer.
According to the press statement signed by Ani, the judgment instead affirmed that the claimants’ dates of first appointment into the Nigeria Police Force—as stated in their appointment letters—could not be altered by the defendants. The court also ruled that members of Cadet ASP Force Entrant Courses 18, 19, and 20 who had not completed 35 years of service or reached 60 years of age should not be affected by the Commission’s earlier directive of January 31, 2025, which approved the retirement of officers who had attained either benchmark.
The PSC explained that the judgment made several declarations and injunctions restraining the defendants from unlawfully reviewing the appointment dates or prematurely retiring officers in the affected courses. Nonetheless, the court did not explicitly instruct the reinstatement of any named officer as reported.
“The public should note further that nothing in the above decision of the court specifically orders the reinstatement of the officers as alleged by Sahara Reporters, or specifically mentions any other officer,” the statement read in part.
Ani further noted that the Commission was studying the judgment to determine its next steps, including the possibility of an appeal.
He added that contrary to the impression created by media reports, the cases involving senior officers such as AIG Idowu Owohunwa, AIG Benneth Igwe, and DCP Simon Lough (SAN) were filed under a different suit—NICN/ABJ/88/2025: AIG Idowu Owohunwa & 2 Ors vs Police Service Commission & 7 Ors—which remains pending before the court.
“The Commission notes with much concern that the officers specifically referred to in the Sahara Reporters news filed a separate suit before the same court, which is still awaiting determination,” Ani stated.
Reiterating its commitment to due process, the PSC emphasized that it operates strictly within the rule of law and respects the independence of the judiciary.
“It is important to conclude this statement by restating that the Commission is a responsible organization with one of its cardinal principles as obedience to the rule of law, and it will not do anything to disparage the sanctity of the judiciary,” the statement concluded.
