A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has clashed over fresh allegations of financial misappropriation to the tune of ₦234 billion leveled against the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, with a fierce rebuttal coming from a long-standing police accountability group.
The controversy, which erupted during a roundtable on Police Reform and Accountability held in Abuja on Tuesday, has seen the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) accuse IGP Egbetokun of financial misconduct involving budgetary allocations, suspicious contract awards, and questionable disposal of police assets.
PAACA’s Executive Director, Ezenwa Nwagwu, said the organisation had submitted a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), along with a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the police, seeking clarifications on the alleged misuse of funds under the current police leadership.
Nwagwu expressed concerns over what he described as “credible reports” from whistleblowers and media outlets alleging that the police under Egbetokun mismanaged over ₦234 billion.
According to him, among the most disturbing of the claims was the alleged diversion of ₦6 billion from the Police Internal Security Operations budget, which was reportedly used to fund a controversial contract for uniforms.
He said, “There are reports that on January 16, 2024, the IGP approved a ₦6 billion contract for police uniforms via internal memo CQ 6000/DLS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.83/946, a sum far above his approval threshold.
To circumvent procurement laws, the contract was allegedly split into 66 smaller contracts—all under ₦100 million—awarded to a single company, Messrs Crown Natures Nigeria Plc.”
Nwagwu further alleged that this contract was awarded despite an earlier ₦7.34 billion budget allocation already provided for uniforms in the 2024 appropriation, calling it an instance of “double funding” and a violation of virement and procurement laws.
He also cited a memo from the Police Director of Finance and Accounts, Dandela Kassim, dated March 28, 2024, which reportedly opposed the transaction on legal and financial grounds.
But firing back, the Integrity Youth Alliance dismissed the allegations as “baseless and mischievous,” accusing PAACA of being influenced by disgruntled former police officers and failed aspirants for the IGP’s position.
In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Kelvin Adegbenga, the group accused the petitioners of orchestrating a campaign of blackmail and misinformation against Egbetokun.
Adegbenga said, “IGP Egbetokun never diverted ₦6 billion as alleged. These accusations are the handiwork of individuals who were either compulsorily retired for falsifying their records or those bitter over not attaining the IGP post.”
He praised Egbetokun’s administration for promoting transparency and accountability, saying the current police leadership had introduced significant reforms and relied on professional advice for contract approvals.
“It is high time the Nigeria Police enforced existing laws against the consistent defamation of the person of the IGP,” Adegbenga added. “No amount of blackmail will derail his mission to build a professionally competent and service-driven force.”
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