Court orders Egbetokun to produce 5 retired officers for trial over ‘age falsification’

Court

The federal capital territory (FCT) high court has ordered Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), to produce five retired senior officers for arraignment over alleged age falsification.

According to NAN, Yusuf Halilu, the trial judge, on Tuesday, issued the order following the absence of the retired police officers in court.

In May, Egbetokun filed a 14-count charge against some retired police officers over allegations bordering on age falsification, forgery, and fraudulent manipulation of official documents.

Some of the retired police officers listed as defendants in the suit are Idowu Owohunwa (AIG), Benneth Igweh (CP), Ukachi Peter Opara (CP), Obo Ukam Obo (DCP), and Simon A. Lough (ACP).

During the resumption of hearing on Tuesday, Rimamsomte Ezekiel, the prosecution counsel, told the court that the retired officers have been served the charges.

“They were all served with the charge last week Thursday. They were all informed to be in court today, but none of them is in court,” Ezekiel said.

“We find it difficult to ask for a bench warrant because they have not been arraigned before this court.”

The judge said the prosecutor must do everything to ensure that the retired police officers are arraigned.

“You are the prosecutor. You should do all within your powers to ensure that the defendants attend court on the next adjourned date for the purpose of arraignment,” the judge said.

The judge adjourned the matter to September 25 for the prosecution to produce the five suspects for arraignment. Punch