Justice Halilu Yusuf of the FCT High Court has refused a request by the Inspector-General of Police to issue a bench warrant against five retired senior officers facing charges of forgery and age falsification.
The court session on Thursday stalled after the accused officers failed to appear for their scheduled arraignment.
Prosecuting counsel, ACP Rimamsomte Ezekiel, told the court that investigators tried to serve the defendants at their known addresses but discovered they had relocated.
He added that copies of the charge were sent to their WhatsApp numbers but they still failed to show up.
Ezekiel asked the court to issue a bench warrant under section 266(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
However, defence counsel Terkaa Aondo (SAN) opposed the request, insisting that the defendants had not been personally served.
He argued that criminal charges require personal service and accused the police of failing to use their full powers.
“If the police could arrest Nnamdi Kanu in Kenya and Omoyele Sowore in Nigeria, why can’t they bring these defendants to court?” he asked.
Justice Yusuf agreed with the defence, ruling that the matter requires proper personal service before any arrest order can be considered.
He added that the police have the full apparatus to compel the attendance of the accused.
The retired officers facing charges include AIG Idowu Owohunwa, CP Benneth Igweh, CP Ukachi Peter Opara, DCP Obo Ukam Obo, and ACP Simon A. Lough (SAN). Others remain at large.
They are accused of falsifying their ages and documents to extend their service years in the police, thereby unlawfully enjoying privileges of office beyond retirement age.
The charges cover conspiracy, cheating, forgery, and dishonest declarations under several sections of the Penal Code.
Specifically, Owohunwa is accused of issuing directives with falsified documents in 2021 and altering his date of birth to remain in service.
Lough is accused of swearing a false affidavit in a 2025 court case, claiming he served only 25 years despite enlisting in 1987.
The case highlights lingering concerns about corruption and manipulation of service records within the Nigeria Police Force.
The matter was adjourned to allow proper service on the defendants before arraignment.