475 Police Officers Recalled After Controversial Retirement, Ordered for Mandatory Induction

The Nigeria Police Force reinstates 475 senior officers following court victory, with AIGs Owohunwa and Igwe among those returning for compulsory six-month training at Police Staff College, Jos.

The Nigeria Police Force has ordered the reinstatement of 475 senior police officers who were previously retired under the contentious “merger of service” policy, directing them to report for a compulsory six-month induction programme at the Police Staff College, Jos. The directive follows a court ruling that nullified their retirement, marking one of the largest single recalls of senior officers in the Force’s recent history.

The directive was contained in a confidential letter dated July 31, 2026, signed by Force Secretary, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Bode Akinbamilowo, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police. The communication was addressed to Assistant Inspectors-General across the country’s 17 police zones, Commissioners of Police in all states, and the Commandant of the Police Staff College, Jos. The officers were initially retired following a Police Service Commission (PSC) decision reached at its First Extraordinary Meeting on January 31, 2025, which approved the implementation of the disputed merger of service policy. However, the National Industrial Court, in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/28/2025, overturned the retirements, ruling that the date of first appointment of the affected officers, as contained in their appointment letters, was not subject to review by the defendants. The Court of Appeal subsequently affirmed the ruling in April 2026. The PSC later approved the regularisation of the officers’ dates of first appointment at its plenary meeting on June 25, 2026, in compliance with the court judgment.

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Among the senior officers named on the recall list are AIG Idowu Owohunwa (AP/No 50645), who was appointed on August 15, 1996, as part of Force Entrants Cadet ASP Course 19/1996; AIG Benneth Chinedu Igwe (AP/No 50703), also appointed on August 15, 1996, under the same course; AIG Uche Ifeanyi Henry (AP/No 57903), appointed on May 1, 2000, as part of Force Entrants Cadet ASP Course 20/2000; and DCP Simon Asamber Lough (AP/No 57917), also appointed on May 1, 2000, under the same course. The affected officers span multiple entrant courses dating back to 1992 through 2012, cutting across ranks from Assistant Inspector-General down to Superintendent of Police. Other prominent officers recalled include AIG Joseph O. Eribo, CP Fidelis Ndubuisi Ogarabe, SP Olasukanmi Lateef Olujide, CSP Sanusi Amiru, CSP Grace Idowu Agboola, CSP Oluwadare Ezekiel Ayeni, CSP Angela Agabe, DCP Akinbayo Olasukami Olasoji, DCP Louis Chike Nwabuwa, ACP Benjamin Okehielam Okwara, and CSP Rita A.A. Inoma-Abbey, PhD.

The Force Secretary instructed all zonal commands and state police commissioners to ensure that affected officers are contacted and directed to report to the Police Staff College for the mandatory training programme. He further instructed them to “locate and warn” the officers to report for the induction course. The induction programme has been scheduled in two phases, with documentation and arrival taking place between August 1 and August 16, 2026, while the six-month induction proper will run from August 17, 2026, to February 16, 2027. The Inspector-General directed the Commandant of the Police Staff College to submit the list of all documented participants on or before August 24, 2026, stressing that “lateness will not be tolerated.” Copies of the directive were circulated to the IGP’s Secretariat and the Deputy Inspectors-General overseeing Finance and Administration, Operations, Logistics and Supply, Investigation, Training and Development, Research and Planning, Information and Communication Technology, Intelligence, as well as the Assistant Inspector-General in charge of Police Accounts and Budget to ensure the smooth implementation of the induction exercise.

Official records accompanying the directive show revised retirement timelines for the recalled officers following the court-ordered reinstatement. AIG Idowu Owohunwa now has a new retirement date of July 20, 2030, while AIG Benneth Chinedu Igwe is now scheduled to retire on October 7, 2028, and DCP Simon Asamber Lough will retire on May 14, 2029. Several officers on the list are already approaching retirement, with ACP Benjamin Okwara expected to retire in December 2026, while CSP Sanusi Amiru is due for retirement in February 2027.

The matter arose after the Police Service Commission, working with the police leadership, retired the senior officers in January 2025 over discrepancies in service records and alleged age falsification. However, the officers challenged their forced retirement from the police force, arguing they had neither completed 35 years of pensionable service nor reached the mandatory retirement age of 60. The case, filed by ACP Chinedu Ambrose Emengaha and seven others, also involved a separate suit filed by the three senior officers — AIG Owohunwa, AIG Igwe, and DCP Lough — which had been pending before the court. The reinstatement represents one of the largest single recalls of senior officers in the Force’s recent history and effectively overturns a retirement exercise that had sparked widespread controversy within the police establishment. The development raises questions about the Police Service Commission’s recruitment and retirement policies, as well as the implementation of the merger of service policy that led to the initial mass retirement.

475 Police Officers Recalled After Controversial Retirement, Ordered for Mandatory Induction

Oloyede clears air on JAMB’s ₦36m ‘snake swallowed money’ controversy

Former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, has dismissed the long-running belief that a snake physically swallowed money belonging to the examination body, insisting that the widely repeated account was never a literal incident.

Oloyede said the controversial “snake swallowed JAMB money” story was an explanation linked to missing funds discovered during an audit and not evidence that a snake had actually taken public money.

Speaking during an interview on ARISE News, the former JAMB registrar explained that the incident predated his tenure and that he only became involved after assuming office and taking steps to investigate the matter.

The controversy became one of Nigeria’s most widely discussed public-sector scandals in 2018 after about ₦36 million generated from the sale of JAMB scratch cards could not be properly accounted for at the board’s Makurdi office in Benue State.

At the time, reports said a sales clerk linked the missing money to a mysterious snake that allegedly entered the office and “spiritually” took the funds from a vault.

The unusual explanation sparked nationwide disbelief, criticism and satire, while the phrase “snake swallowed money” became a popular reference in public discussions about missing government funds and accountability.

However, Oloyede said many Nigerians later interpreted the story literally, even though no snake was ever found.

“The snake matter did not occur when I was there. It was just that I had the fortune or misfortune that I had to address it. The matter had occurred before I assumed office,” Oloyede said.

The former JAMB chief explained that he ordered the account of what allegedly happened to be recorded because the explanation was difficult to believe.

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According to him, the recording later became important when the incident attracted national attention and some people questioned whether the unusual account had actually been given.

“I insisted that we must record it because it was unbelievable. When the matter became a national issue, the tape was there. Even myself, I would have disbelieved myself if we did not have the recording of the narration of what happened,” he said.

Oloyede maintained that no snake was ever found because the incident was not a case of a reptile physically swallowing public money.

“There was no snake. Some people will say snakes were swallowing naira in JAMB, but they know that was just a creation of a mind. Many people took it literally and believed snakes swallowed money. The reality was that that never happened,” he added.

The 2018 controversy emerged during a wider review of JAMB’s finances and operations following Oloyede’s appointment as registrar in 2016.

The board had deployed audit teams to review records relating to the sale of scratch cards, reconcile revenues and identify funds that had not been properly accounted for.

The audit brought renewed attention to weaknesses associated with the old scratch-card system and prompted further efforts to strengthen financial controls and improve transparency within the examination body.

At the height of the controversy, JAMB said the matter was being treated as a case involving alleged financial misconduct and that officials found culpable would face disciplinary action and possible prosecution.

The board also maintained that the central issue was the disappearance of public funds and not the sensational interpretation that a snake had physically swallowed ₦36 million.

The sales clerk linked to the controversy later denied personally saying that a snake swallowed the money, arguing that she had not been directly questioned about the missing funds and that the matter was being wrongly personalised. JAMB officials, however, maintained that the unusual explanation emerged during the audit process. (TheCable)

Oloyede’s latest comments have again drawn attention to the difference between the popular public narrative and the underlying allegations of missing funds.

The former registrar said the widespread use of the phrase had overshadowed the broader issue of financial accountability and the efforts made to identify and address irregularities within the board.

The “snake swallowed JAMB money” story has remained part of Nigeria’s political and social vocabulary, often used to question unusual explanations for missing public funds.

Beyond the controversy, Oloyede also revisited the widely publicised Mmesoma Ejikeme UTME result controversy, saying the case was not an isolated incident.

According to him, JAMB had handled several cases involving alleged examination fraud, result manipulation and the presentation of questionable examination records over the years.

Mmesoma became the subject of national debate in 2023 after JAMB accused her of presenting a manipulated Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result.

The matter generated widespread public discussion, with some individuals initially questioning the board’s findings and calling for further investigation.

However, an investigative panel set up by the Anambra State Government later concluded that the result presented by Mmesoma was not authentic.

Oloyede said the case demonstrated the importance of relying on verified records, established procedures and credible evidence when handling examination-related disputes.

He also stressed the need for stronger technology and improved verification systems to address examination malpractice, identity fraud, impersonation and the manipulation of academic records.

During his tenure, JAMB expanded the use of digital systems, including biometric verification, electronic registration processes and the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), as part of efforts to improve transparency and reduce opportunities for fraud.

The former JAMB registrar said the board had encountered several cases involving questionable results, but the Mmesoma controversy attracted exceptional public attention because of the scale of the debate surrounding it.

Oloyede’s clarification has again placed the focus on the central issue behind the 2018 controversy: the investigation into missing funds and the need for stronger accountability in public institutions.

For the former JAMB chief, the story was never about a snake physically swallowing public money but about an unusual explanation that emerged during an investigation into financial irregularities.

Oloyede clears air on JAMB’s ₦36m ‘snake swallowed money’ controversy

Oyo Muslim Leaders Receive Saudi Delegation, Intensify Drive for Muslim College of Nursing

OYO, August 1, 2026 – Muslim leaders in Oyo Kingdom on Saturday received a high-powered delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in a visit that underscored growing collaboration in education, healthcare and Islamic development, with renewed commitment towards the establishment of a Muslim College of Nursing in Oyo.

The delegation was accorded a warm reception at a gathering attended by prominent Islamic scholars and community leaders from Oyo Land.

Among the dignitaries present were the Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land, Fadhilatu Shaykh Imam Bilaal Husayn Akinola Akeugberu; Ash-Shaykh Sulayman Akhyar, who served as the special guest; Ash-Shaykh Mainasaro, the Ameerul Muslimeen; the Aare Musulumi of Oyo Land, Alhaji Adebayo Kamarise; the Chairman of the Muslim Community of Oyo Land; Khalifa Hasbunallah Al-Oyowiyy; and several other religious leaders and stakeholders.

The gathering focused on mobilising support for the proposed Muslim College of Nursing, an initiative aimed at expanding access to quality healthcare education while promoting excellence in professional training within the Muslim community.

In his welcome address, the Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land, Shaykh Bilaal Husayn Akinola Akeugberu, expressed appreciation to the Saudi delegation and other distinguished guests for identifying with the vision of establishing the institution. He described the proposed college as a strategic investment in human capital development that would benefit not only Muslims but the wider society.

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Also present at the event were the Muslim Ummah of Oyo Land and Fadhilatu Shaykh Dr. Rofeeu Adisa Ballo, who joined other leaders in reaffirming their commitment to ensuring the successful establishment and growth of the proposed college.

Speakers at the event stressed the importance of strengthening educational and healthcare institutions capable of producing highly skilled professionals while nurturing moral and ethical values rooted in Islamic teachings.

Special prayers were offered for the success of the proposed institution, with participants praying that Almighty Allah bless the sponsors, donors, scholars and all individuals contributing to the realisation of the project.

The visit also featured discussions on strengthening the longstanding relationship between the Muslim community in Oyo Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Participants emphasised the need for sustained cooperation in religious, educational and humanitarian programmes aimed at advancing the welfare of the Muslim Ummah.

In a symbolic gesture that drew commendation from attendees, the Grand Chief Imam granted approval for the head of the Saudi delegation to lead the Jumu’ah prayer at the Oyo Central Mosque, Akesan.

The honour, according to participants, reflected the spirit of Islamic brotherhood, mutual respect and unity among Muslims across national boundaries.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Imam reiterated that Islam encourages peace, dialogue and cooperation among believers, urging Muslim communities around the world to work together in promoting justice, harmony and understanding.

He said such partnerships remain essential to addressing contemporary challenges through education, religious enlightenment and community development.

Responding on behalf of the delegation, its leader expressed gratitude to the Chief Imam, traditional Muslim leadership and the people of Oyo for the warm reception accorded the visitors.

He described the opportunity to lead the Jumu’ah prayer as a great honour and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to strengthening religious cooperation and supporting initiatives that promote peace, unity, education and mutual understanding among Muslims.

The delegation noted that collaborations centred on education and healthcare development would contribute significantly to the growth of Muslim communities and the overall advancement of society.

The event concluded with prayers for enduring peace, stability and prosperity in Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and the global Muslim Ummah.

Participants described the visit as a landmark engagement that not only reinforced the bonds of brotherhood between Oyo Muslims and their Saudi counterparts but also provided renewed momentum for the actualisation of the Muslim College of Nursing, which they said would serve generations of students and healthcare professionals.

Oyo Muslim Leaders Receive Saudi Delegation, Intensify Drive for Muslim College of Nursing