Civil Groups Demand Probe of IGP Egbetokun Over Alleged ₦234bn Police Funds Mismanagement

 

Mounting pressure from civil society organisations is casting a shadow over the leadership of Nigeria’s top police officer, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, following explosive allegations of misappropriation of public funds amounting to over ₦234 billion. The call for accountability reverberated through Abuja on Tuesday as CSOs gathered for a roundtable discussion centred on Police Reform and Accountability.

Voices from the civic space, led by the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), demanded urgent intervention by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The civil society groups say their demand is grounded in disturbing reports, media investigations, and whistleblower revelations that suggest large-scale financial misconduct within the Nigeria Police Force under the current leadership.

Ezenwa Nwagwu, Executive Director of PAACA and convener of the forum, underscored the gravity of the situation. He disclosed that the CSOs had already filed a Freedom of Information (FOI) request with the Police authorities, pressing for clarification and documentary evidence to address the mounting public suspicion.

Allegations under scrutiny include claims of budgetary diversions, questionable contract awards, and the disposal of police assets to favoured interests. Among the most serious accusations is the alleged diversion of ₦6 billion from funds earmarked for internal security operations — money that was intended to enhance the operational capability of Nigeria’s security apparatus.

Nwagwu expressed concern over what he described as "repeated and systemic abuse of procurement laws," pointing to an allegedly unauthorized ₦6 billion contract for the supply of police uniforms. According to reports circulating in the media and supported by insider whistleblower accounts, the contract was unlawfully split into 66 smaller sub-contracts, each under ₦100 million, and awarded to one company — Crown Natures Nigeria Plc.

“This is deeply troubling,” Nwagwu stated. “Not only does it appear that the contract was executed without proper procurement process, but it was reportedly carried out despite an existing ₦7.34 billion allocation in the 2024 national budget for the same purpose.”

By breaking the contract into numerous smaller deals, the Police leadership is accused of circumventing established procurement thresholds that require due process, competitive bidding, and transparency. Such alleged manipulation is seen by CSOs as a flagrant breach of the Public Procurement Act and an indicator of deeper financial malpractice.

The implications are more than administrative. According to Nwagwu, this suspected double funding — wherein both budgetary allocation and diverted funds were used for the same objective — may help explain the underperformance and lack of essential resources plaguing the police force amid Nigeria's worsening security crisis.

Even more damning are the claims that the transaction proceeded against the advice of senior police finance officials. A memo dated March 28, 2024, reportedly penned by Mr. Dandela Kassim, Director of Finance and Accounts, outlined strong objections to the IGP’s decision. In the memo, Kassim is said to have warned of financial and legal breaches, urging the Police leadership to halt the process. That warning, however, was allegedly ignored.

Civil society leaders now argue that the silence or inaction of oversight institutions could set a dangerous precedent. “Public trust in security institutions is already fragile,” Nwagwu warned. “Any perception that the topmost leadership is engaged in financial recklessness can seriously undermine morale within the Force and public cooperation with law enforcement.”

These developments have sparked fresh calls for institutional reform. Stakeholders at the roundtable emphasized the urgent need to strengthen the capacity and independence of accountability institutions like the ICPC, and to protect whistleblowers who bring such concerns to light. Many of the participants also called on the National Assembly to commence its own independent investigation into the matter.

Legal experts who joined the discussion highlighted the seriousness of the allegations. They noted that if proven, the actions of the IGP may violate multiple sections of Nigeria’s financial regulations, procurement laws, and constitutional principles of accountability. They further warned that such a precedent could embolden future abuse of public office if left unchecked.

With Nigeria currently facing surging security challenges — from insurgency in the North-East to rising banditry in the North-West and unrest in several other regions — many citizens are asking hard questions about where the billions allocated to the police each year are going.

For now, civil society organisations have vowed to sustain pressure until clear answers emerge. “This is not a witch hunt,” Nwagwu clarified. “It is a demand for transparency, justice, and responsible governance.”

The ball, he said, is now firmly in the court of the ICPC and other relevant bodies tasked with fighting corruption in Nigeria. Whether these institutions rise to the challenge remains to be seen.