- Odibo Victory
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations that over ₦6.79 billion in public funds were missing, diverted or misapplied within the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs.
The organisation also called for the prosecution of anyone found responsible, including contractors, companies and public officials implicated in the allegations, as well as the recovery and proper accounting of all missing public funds, firearms and ammunition.
The allegations are contained in the 2022 Annual Report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on September 9, 2025.
In a letter dated August 1, 2026, and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation described the Auditor-General’s findings as a grave betrayal of public trust.
“The Auditor-General’s findings suggest a grave betrayal of the public trust and raise serious concerns about corruption and the management of public funds, police exhibits, firearms and ammunition,” SERAP said.
The organisation added that the report also raised serious concerns over missing firearms and ammunition, the unauthorised use and release of police exhibits, failures to properly account for exhibits and the insecure storage of firearms, creating significant risks to public safety and national security.
According to SERAP, the diversion of funds meant for policing, abandoned security projects, missing firearms and ammunition, and the misuse of police exhibits undermine the operational effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force, weaken public confidence and may contribute to worsening insecurity in the country.
SERAP said the Auditor-General’s 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, irregular procurement, unretired cash advances, unsettled insurance claims and payments for services allegedly not rendered.
The organisation said the report also documented suspected diversion and misapplication of public funds amounting to over ₦6.79 billion, alongside allegations of missing firearms and ammunition, unauthorised use and release of police exhibits, failures to properly account for recovered firearms and other exhibits, and insecure storage of firearms.
SERAP gave the Federal Government seven days to act on its recommendations, warning that it would take legal action if its request was ignored.
“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,” the organisation said.
SERAP also cited Sections 14 and 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution, noting that the Constitution requires the State to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power while recognising the security and welfare of Nigerians as the primary purpose of government.
According to SERAP, the Auditor-General’s report showed that the Nigeria Police Force Department of Logistics and Supply, Works Section, Force Headquarters, Abuja, paid ₦499,875,500 in October 2022 to a contractor for the construction of Police College Phase II in Bashar, Plateau State, but the project was never executed.
The rights group said the Auditor-General believed the money may have been diverted and recommended that it be recovered and remitted to the treasury.
The organisation added that the same section also paid ₦12,931,000 for the rehabilitation of Block B of the Department of Logistics and Supply building in Garki, but the project was not executed.
It further stated that ₦111,635,864.64 was paid for the construction of 12 one-bedroom en-suite transit camp units and the rehabilitation of the administration block at the NPF Pre-Retirement Skills Acquisition Centre in Kudan, Kaduna State, but the project was likewise not executed.
SERAP also noted that taxes amounting to ₦4,011,627.89 were allegedly inserted to inflate a contract, adding that the amount should never have been paid to the contractor.
The organisation further disclosed that more than ₦1.93 billion was paid for 14 projects classified as ongoing in 2022, yet the projects were abandoned while fresh contracts were awarded instead. According to the Auditor-General’s report, the new contracts could not be traced.
On firearms, SERAP said the report revealed that the FCT Police Command booked 42 firearms, including AK-47 rifles and pistols, alongside 737 rounds of live ammunition into its armoury between 2021 and 2022, but the weapons were never returned, raising fears that they may have been lost or fallen into the wrong hands.
The report, cited by SERAP, also alleged that the command converted exhibits recovered during operations into operational use without proper authorisation.
These included a Golf 3 saloon car recovered at Mpape Police Division, which was converted into a patrol vehicle without evidence from the Divisional Police Officer approving the action.
It further alleged that nine AK-47 rifles recovered during operations were used by the FCT Criminal Investigation Department without due authorisation, raising concerns that official use may have led to the loss of exhibits.
SERAP further said the Auditor-General found that the FCT Police Command failed to account for 24 exhibits recorded in its exhibit register between 2021 and 2022 and denied auditors access to the exhibit room.
The organisation also stated that the command failed to document exhibits recovered from crime scenes in the exhibit register.
Among the items allegedly missing were a firearm recovered in November 2021, one pistol, eight rounds of ammunition and one AK-47 round of live ammunition recovered in February 2022, none of which could be traced to the exhibit register or confirmed as having been handed over for safekeeping.
The report also alleged that the command released monetary exhibits amounting to ₦5,050,000 and non-monetary exhibits without proper authorisation or bonds. According to SERAP, the items included a Baretta pistol, an AK-47 rifle with 20 rounds of ammunition, an Apple laptop and an HP laptop.
The rights group added that the Auditor-General found 10 obsolete and unserviceable firearms stored at the FCT Divisional Headquarters armoury, while other firearms were kept unsecured inside a box on the floor of an administrative office.
According to SERAP, the Police Accounts and Budget Department at Force Headquarters paid ₦112,026,424 to some officers in 2022 to settle outstanding allowances from 2020 despite the expenditure not being provided for in the approved 2022 budget.
It also said the Nigeria Police Force failed to prepare its 2022 financial statements in line with extant regulations and offered no justification for failing to submit IPSAS accrual stand-alone financial statements.
The organisation further alleged that the police engaged the services of the Senior Special Assistant to the Inspector-General of Police on Revenue and Tax Matters for an annual payment of ₦6 million but paid the money through another staff member instead of directly to the SSA.
SERAP also stated that the Auditor-General found the police granted cash advances totalling ₦10,080,000 to officers for office equipment for the NPF Database Management Centre. The advances exceeded the approved threshold of ₦200,000 and were never retired.
It added that the police failed to properly document the loss of 10 operational horses that died between 2021 and 2022 and removed the animals from the stock register without following due process.
The organisation also noted that obsolete firearms collected from police commands and formations were not destroyed as required.
According to SERAP, the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs awarded contracts worth ₦438,066,845.73 for the supply of bulletproof vests, ballistic helmets and Styr Punch Vistar troop carriers without carrying out due diligence.
The report also showed that the ministry paid ₦18 million to a contractor for the training of women in cosmetology and the provision of empowerment kits in Ondo Central Senatorial District without supporting documents such as participant lists, training certificates or training manuals.
SERAP further alleged that the ministry paid ₦258,989,999.75 to an unqualified contractor to procure 10 JAC patrol vehicles for police outposts in Bichi, Gabasawa and Kunchi Local Government Areas of Kano State without due process or proper due diligence.
It also stated that ₦30,853,250 was paid as security allowances for personnel attached to the ministry through an officer instead of directly to the intended beneficiaries.
The organisation further disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force Insurance Unit paid ₦681,406,593.18 to insurance brokers to settle beneficiaries’ claims, but none of the claims was settled.
SERAP also said insurance policy liabilities amounting to over ₦1.628 billion for 2020 and 2021 remained uncleared.
The group added that the Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Office irregularly paid ₦57,484,515.30 to contractors for the purchase of video cameras, customised umbrellas, gift bags and towels between May and December 2022 without conducting competitive bidding.
It further stated that the police failed to deduct ₦7,760,409.56 in withholding tax and value-added tax from contracts awarded.
According to SERAP, the Auditor-General believed the money might have been diverted and recommended that it be recovered and remitted to the treasury.