I Wasn’t Discharged From Police Force’: Retired DIG Ari Mohammed Ali Debunks Age Falsification Allegations
Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations), Ari Mohammed Ali, has stated that he retired honourably from the force and was not dismissed over any allegations.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Ibrahim Anas Alemani, over the weekend, Ali described as false and misleading the reports claiming he was discharged due to allegations of age falsification and violation of service rules. He said the claims were a deliberate attempt to tarnish his reputation and undermine his distinguished record.
The statement emphasised that Ali served the Nigeria Police Force with integrity and retired without blemish, having built a career marked by professionalism and excellence.
The statement read, “He served in various capacities in the Nigeria Police Force excellently and would not want to be drawn into such malicious and mischievous publication. However, to avoid any doubt and for the public and his supporters not to be misled, it is important to put the record straight.
“DIG Ari Mohammed Ari (rtd) was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on the 3rd of March 1990 as a member of course 16 cadet ASP. He trained in the Elite Police Academy in Kaduna State. He served in various capacities in the Police Force, during which he won numerous awards due to his dedication and leadership style. He served in the Delta, Bayelsa, Lagos, Rivers, Kano State Commands, and also served in the Police Staff College Jos.
“DIG Ari Mohammed Ari (rtd) served as the Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations in Lagos State for three years, during which he won the Security Watch Africa Award of Excellence as the Best Operations Officer in African security in the year 2018.
“While serving in Delta State Command as the 20th Commissioner of Police from the year 2021 to the year 2023, the state became one of the safest states in Nigeria. He was promoted to the rank of an Assistant Inspector General of Police in the year 2023 and posted to Zone 2, Lagos State as the AIG Zone 2.
According to the statement, Ari was deployed to Force Headquarters in January 2024 as the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) for Community Policing, where he served until his posting to Kano State as AIG Zone 1 Kano. The statement said throughout his career, he remained committed to serving the people of Kano State with dedication.
“He was promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police on the 24th November 2024 and posted as the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations Department, Police Force Headquarters, Abuja from where he retired after attaining the mandatory 60 years in age and 35 years in service to the force,” he stated.
“It is pertinent to reiterate that DIG Ari Mohammed Ari (rtd) who is PhD holder from Irish University, Penbroke Square United Kingdom, was enlisted on the 3rd of March 1990 and retired meritoriously on the 1st of March 2025.”
On Saturday, SaharaReporters reported Ali had joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) and sought to contest for the Senate in the 2027 general elections.
The report stated that Ali was retired from service alongside other Deputy Inspectors-General, including Dasuki Galandachi and Jonathan Towuru, by the embattled Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over allegations of age falsification and violations of service rules.
Meanwhile, Egbetokun, despite reaching retirement age in September 2024, has remained in office following a controversial Senate amendment that extended his tenure.
Egbetokun was initially scheduled to retire in September 2024 upon reaching 60. However, the National Assembly amended the Police Act in 2024, guaranteeing a full four-year tenure for the Inspector General of Police, irrespective of the standard civil service retirement age.
“Ari Mohammed Ali is equally contesting for Senate under APC in the Nasarawa South,” a top source revealed to SaharaReporters on Saturday.
In Nasarawa State, retired DIG Ali appears to be following the path of former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, who, after retiring in 2021, also declared his ambition to contest for governor ahead of the 2027 general elections.
SaharaReporters previously reported that Adamu officially announced his intention to run for the Nasarawa governorship on the APC platform.
Adamu, who served as IGP from 2019 to 2021 under the Muhammadu Buhari administration, made his declaration during a meeting with the APC State Working Committee members in Lafia.
The former police chief said his decision was in response to a “clarion call” from the people of Nasarawa, who believe in his leadership qualities and experience.