Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged misappropriation of the sum of N234 billion by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The CSOs who made the demand on Tuesday in Abuja at the roundtable on Police Reform and Accountability, also revealed that they have submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the police, seeking clarification on some of the issues.
The Converner and the Executive Director, Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), Ezenwa Nwagwu, expressed worry over reports circulating in the media and from whistleblowers alleging possible financial misconduct under the current leadership of the Force.
He added that some of these allegations as they have read, involved claims of diversion of funds for internal security, contract awards, and disposal of police assets to cronies.
Ezenwa stated: “Reports circulating on social media that over ₦234 billion may have been mismanaged under the current administration of the Police Force call for serious concern and deserve a transparent and detailed response or explanation.”;
“For instance, we expect an explanation to reports alleging a ₦6 billion contract for police uniforms was split into 66 smaller contracts—each just under the procurement threshold—despite a prior budgetary allocation for the same purpose?
“Could it be true that On January 16, 2024, through internal memo CQ 6000/DLS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.83/946, IGP Egbetokun reportedly approved the award of a ₦6 billion contract for the supply of police uniforms, an amount well beyond his approval threshold.
“To evade financial regulations, the contract was alleged to have been illegally split into sixty-six (66) separate awards, each valued under ₦100 million, all awarded to a single company, a certain Messrs Crown Natures Nigeria Plc, in direct violation of the Public Procurement Act.
“To fund this massive irregularity, IGP Egbetokun allegedly diverted ₦6 billion from the Police Internal Security Operations budgetary allocation, money originally meant to enhance operational readiness in combating internal threats.
“Shockingly, this diversion occurred despite the Police Force already receiving and utilizing a ₦7.34 billion allocation in the 2024 budget for the procurement of uniforms.”;
Ezenwa stressed that the alleged double funding not only violates financial regulations, including the rules governing virement, but is also one of the many reasons why the Force is severely under-equipped to deal with the escalating security threats facing Nigeria.
He emphasised that there were claims that the IG went ahead with this contract against advice from the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Police Force, Mr. Dandela Kassim, who via a memo dated March 28, 2024, reportedly issued a formal objection to the IGP’s decision, clearly outlining the financial and legal infractions.
