By Anthony Otaru, Abuja
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to order a comprehensive investigation into allegations that more than ₦6.79 billion belonging to the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs was diverted, misapplied or remains unaccounted for, while also demanding the recovery of missing firearms, ammunition and other police exhibits.
The anti-corruption organisation said the alleged financial irregularities, documented in the 2022 Annual Report of the Auditor-General of the Federation published in September 2025, raise serious concerns about accountability, public finance management and national security.
In a letter dated August 1, 2026, addressed to President Tinubu and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP urged the President 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 the allegations and prosecute anyone found culpable.
The organisation said contractors, companies and public officials implicated in the Auditor-General’s report should be held accountable. In contrast, all missing public funds, firearms, ammunition and police exhibits should be recovered and properly secured.
“Anyone suspected to be responsible, including contractors, companies and public officials implicated in the report, should be promptly prosecuted, while all missing public funds, firearms and ammunition should be fully recovered, secured and properly accounted for.”
SERAP described the audit findings as a serious breach of public trust, warning that the reported financial irregularities and poor management of police assets could further weaken security operations across the country.
“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.”
According to the organisation, the report identified widespread cases of abandoned projects, payments for contracts allegedly not executed, inflated contract values, irregular procurement practices, unretired cash advances and unsettled insurance claims amounting to more than ₦6.79 billion.
SERAP argued that the alleged diversion of resources meant for policing, coupled with the disappearance of firearms and ammunition, has serious implications for Nigeria’s security.
“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 Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.”
Among the projects highlighted by the Auditor-General was the alleged payment of ₦499.9 million for the construction of Police College Phase II in Bashar, Plateau State, which the report said was never executed. Another ₦12.9 million reportedly paid for the rehabilitation of a building belonging to the Department of Logistics and Supply in Garki was also listed as unexecuted.
The report further questioned the payment of more than ₦111.6 million for the construction of transit camp facilities at the Police Pre-Retirement Skills Acquisition Centre in Kaduna, alleging that the project was never carried out despite payment.
It also cited the alleged inflation of a contract through the insertion of over ₦4 million in taxes and the payment of about ₦1.94 billion for 14 projects that were reportedly abandoned before fresh contracts were awarded.
Beyond financial issues, SERAP drew attention to what it described as disturbing lapses in the management of police firearms and exhibits.
According to the Auditor-General’s report, 42 firearms, including AK-47 rifles and pistols, together with 737 rounds of live ammunition, booked into the FCT Police Command armoury between 2021 and 2022 were allegedly never returned.
The audit warned that the weapons could have been lost or fallen into the wrong hands, thereby posing a serious threat to public safety.
The report also alleged that police authorities released firearms, laptops, cash exhibits and other recovered items without proper authorisation or documentation. At the same time, auditors were reportedly denied access to some exhibit rooms during the audit exercise.
SERAP further cited findings showing that obsolete firearms remained improperly stored in police armouries, while recovered exhibits were allegedly not entered into official registers, creating gaps in accountability.
The rights group also referenced audit observations involving questionable procurement practices within the Ministry of Police Affairs, including contracts worth hundreds of millions of naira allegedly awarded without due diligence, payments for training programmes without supporting documentation, and the purchase of patrol vehicles through contractors said to be unqualified.
It added that the Auditor-General equally questioned insurance payments exceeding ₦681 million that allegedly failed to reach beneficiaries and insurance liabilities of over ₦1.6 billion that remained unresolved.
The report also cited alleged breaches of procurement regulations in contracts awarded by the Police Public Relations Office and failures to remit statutory taxes running into millions of naira.
SERAP reminded the President that the Constitution places a duty on government to eliminate corruption and protect the security and welfare of citizens.
“Section 15(5) of the Constitution requires the State to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power, while Section 14 recognises that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”
The organisation gave the Federal Government seven days to commence action on its demands, warning that it would institute legal proceedings if the recommendations contained in its petition were ignored.
