By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to order a comprehensive investigation into allegations that more than N6.79 billion in public funds was diverted or misapplied within the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs.
The call was contained in a letter dated Saturday 1 August, 2026, according to a statement issued on Sunday, 2 August, 2026 by the organisation’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, who disclosed that the allegations were contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s Annual Report published on September 9, 2025.
Beyond the funds allegedly diverted, SERAP also demanded the recovery and proper accounting of missing firearms and ammunition allegedly identified in the audit report, describing the findings as a grave betrayal of the public trust.
The organisation urged the President to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate the allegations and prosecute anyone found culpable.
Part of the letter read, “The report documented numerous alleged financial irregularities within the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, including payments for projects that were never executed, abandoned contracts, inflated contract costs, and irregular procurement.”
It added, “The report also documented unretired cash advances, unsettled insurance claims, payments for services allegedly not rendered, and other suspected diversion and misapplication of public funds amounting to over ₦6.79 billion.”
SERAP further raised concerns over the safety of police firearms, stating, “The allegations also include missing firearms and ammunition, the unauthorised use and release of police exhibits, failures to properly account for recovered firearms and other exhibits, and the insecure storage of firearms, posing serious risks to public safety and national security.”
The organisation gave the Federal Government seven days to act on its recommendations, warning that it would resort to legal action should the government fail to respond.
It stated, “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal action to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”
Citing constitutional provisions to back its demand, SERAP noted that Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution requires the state to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power, while Section 14 provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
Highlighting specific findings from the Auditor-General’s report, the organisation cited the alleged payment of N499.9 million for the construction of Police College Phase II in Bashar, Plateau State, a project it said was never executed.
Quoting the audit report, SERAP stated, “According to the 2022 audited report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, the Nigeria Police Force Department of Logistics and Supply, Works Section, Force Headquarters, Abuja, in October 2022 paid over ₦499 million [₦499,875,500.00] to a contractor for the construction of Police College Phase II, Bashar, Plateau State. But the construction of the Police College was not executed.”
It added that the Auditor-General feared the money may have been diverted and had recommended that it be recovered and remitted to the treasury.
The report also disclosed that the same Department paid over N12.9 million to a contractor for the rehabilitation of Block B, Department of Logistics and Supply, at Garki, a project that was equally not executed, as well as over N111.6 million for the construction of 12 one-bedroom en-suite transit camp units and the rehabilitation of an administration block at the Nigeria Police Force Pre-Retirement Skills Acquisition Centre in Kudan, Kaduna State, which was also not carried out.
SERAP further alleged that the Department inserted taxes of over N4 million to inflate a contract, stressing that the amount should not have been paid to the contractor.
According to the letter, the Department also paid over N1.9 billion for fourteen contracts in 2022 that were listed as ongoing projects, but the contracts were abandoned, and new projects were awarded to contractors instead of completing the earlier ones, with the new contracts said to be untraceable.
On the missing firearms, SERAP referenced findings that 42 firearms, including AK-47 rifles and pistols, alongside 737 rounds of live ammunition booked into the FCT Police Command armoury between 2021 and 2022, were never returned.
The organisation said the report also alleged that police exhibits, including vehicles, firearms, and ammunition, were converted to operational use or released without due authorisation, while several exhibits could not be accounted for.
It further cited alleged procurement irregularities within the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, including contracts worth N438.1 million for the supply of bulletproof vests, ballistic helmets, and troop carriers, which it said were awarded without due diligence.
SERAP also referenced alleged irregular payments involving insurance claims, cash advances, training programmes, patrol vehicle procurement, public relations contracts, and tax deductions, all of which it said were documented in the Auditor-General’s report.
The organisation maintained that those found culpable in the alleged wrongdoing should be prosecuted and that all missing public funds and security assets should be recovered in the public interest.
