The fact that two AIGs are competing for the post of Deputy Inspector-General of Police in March 2025 is causing increasing unease among the North Central Zone’s AIG ranks.
The two AIGs from Nasarawa and Kogi states, respectively, are accused of having twice changed their ages in order to continue serving in the Nigeria Police Force.
Swift Reporters spoke to some senior officers from the zone, who said that the North Central zone is the only zone with issues, while other zones are scandal-free.
“AIG Abdul Yari, in particular, is due to retire this December 2024, but he keeps boasting that he has many years to stay in office as he has the backing of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun.
Our information reveals that this particular AIG Abdul Yari, has been indicted by two separate committees that investigated documentation regarding the Nigeria Police Force.
Despite glaring violations of all existing laws—the Police Act, the Police Service Commission Act, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria—AIG Abdul Yari keeps boasting that with his former principal, Atiku Abubakar, and some Northern elders, he will become the DIG coordinating the North Central in 2025.
A senior officer who wished to remain anonymous said, “We know that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, is a very close friend of the AIG, but this is when to put integrity to the test. Will the IGP overlook this forgery and allow his reforms of the police to be rubbished by AIG Abdul Yari? We are keenly watching.
“The same AIG Yari has been indicted twice, but I wonder why the panel’s report has been kept away from the public. Anyway, I doubt if this IGP will ever support an AIG, who has been confirmed to have forged his retirement age twice by a panel set up by the police management team, the senior officer said.
It will be recalled that rising from a management meeting on Monday, January 23rd, 2023, in Abuja, the Police Service Commission kicked against the extension of the tenures of some Deputy Inspectors General, DIGs; Assistant Inspectors General, AIGs; Commissioners, CPs; and other senior police officers, as it is an affront to all the existing laws in the country guiding entry and exit in the public service.
The Commission decided that it would not condone the illegal extension of the tenures of the retiring senior police officers, stressing that even when requested, it cannot do so as it is against all existing laws, the Police Act, the Police Service Commission Act, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In another development, an AIG from Kogi State, Idowu Owohunwa, is also involved in the service year’s scandal. Many police personnel spoken to by our reporter said that it is no longer news that AIG Idowu Owohunwa manipulated his entry records. Still, the impunity of the past management team of the Nigeria Police made him remain in the force.
A senior officer from the North Central Zone told our reporter that if the AC Legal of the FCT Police Command could be forced to retire and refund all illegal salary and allowances collected, the IGP should take the bold steps to write to the Police Service Commission and attach the panel report that indicted these AIGs.
“As I have said previously, IGP Kayode Egbetokun must uphold the provisions of the law, which stipulate that a serving public officer, whether in the police or any other government agency, must exit the service at the age of 60 or having served for 35 years.
“The IGP should not encourage the subversion of the laws guiding entry and exit into the Nigeria public service, adding that the retiring senior police officers are not indispensable, the senior officer said.
In another development, the Integrity Youth Alliance has submitted a petition to the Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission over AIG Abdul Yari, AIG Idowu Owohunwa, and 900 personnel who manipulated their entry documents.
Speaking to our reporter, the Publicity of the Alliance, Danjuma Lamido, said, ‘The Inspector-General of Police should not allow these AIGs to subvert all existing laws, the Police Act, the Police Service Commission Act, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They don’t have any course to remain in service.”
“IGP Egbetokun should not condone forgery and an illegal stay in office as envisaged by the affected Assistant Inspector-General of Police. Egbetokun’s vision embodies professionalism, efficiency, and accountability and extends beyond traditional law enforcement practices; therefore, he should not allow AIG Yari, AIG Idowu, and others to derail his professionalism and efficiency reform of the Nigeria Police Force.
Our reporter’s efforts to reach the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, and the Police Service Commission Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, proved abortive. Text messages sent to them remained unanswered as of the time of filing this report.
