The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has refuted claims that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) submitted two different 2025 budget documents to the National Assembly.
The denial follows a heated session during the IGP’s budget defense before the Joint Committee on Police Affairs on Thursday.
Drama unfolded during the presentation when the IGP detailed plans for the construction of five zonal police headquarters across the country.
Mark Esset, a member of the House of Representatives from Akwa Ibom, questioned why the budget details being read were absent from the document provided to him.
Similarly, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, representing Ebonyi North, expressed dissatisfaction, demanding a copy of the document the IGP was referring to.
However, Abubakar Makki Yalleman, Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs, intervened, insisting that Egbetokun be allowed to continue. This decision did not sit well with Senator Nwebonyi, who angrily left the meeting.
Addressing the incident, Muyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, released a statement on Friday, describing the drama as “unnecessary and avoidable.”
According to the statement, two versions of the budget presentation—comprehensive and abridged—had been distributed to committee members beforehand.
Adejobi explained that the members unanimously agreed that the IGP would present the abridged version since they already had access to both documents.
“However, distinguished Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, who arrived late, began referencing the comprehensive version while the IGP was presenting the abridged version,” the statement read.
“Despite clarifications from other committee members about the earlier agreement and the consistency between both versions, the senator refused to listen and abruptly left the session.”
Egbetokun reiterated that there were no discrepancies between the two documents and emphasized his commitment to transparency in handling the NPF’s budget.
The defense of the police budget comes amid scrutiny of allocations for critical infrastructure and operations.
The proposed budget includes funding for the establishment of zonal police headquarters to enhance law enforcement efficiency nationwide.
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