The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to order an immediate investigation into an alleged Police funds scandal involving more than ₦6.79 billion reportedly missing, diverted or misapplied within the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs.
In a letter dated August 1, 2026, and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation urged the President to direct the Attorney General of the Federation, 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 allegations are contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2022 Annual Report, published on September 9, 2025, which highlighted widespread financial irregularities, abandoned projects, missing firearms and weak accountability mechanisms within the police system.
According to SERAP, all individuals, contractors and companies implicated in the report should face prosecution, while missing public funds, firearms and ammunition should be recovered and properly accounted for.
The organisation described the findings as a serious breach of public trust, warning that the alleged diversion of security funds, poor management of police exhibits and disappearance of weapons could further worsen Nigeria’s security challenges.
The report cited several questionable transactions, including nearly ₦500 million allegedly paid for the construction of a Police College in Plateau State that was never executed, over ₦111 million reportedly spent on another uncompleted project in Kaduna State, and more than ₦1.9 billion linked to abandoned contracts.
It also alleged that contracts worth over ₦438 million for bulletproof vests, ballistic helmets and troop carriers were awarded without proper due diligence, while payments exceeding ₦258 million were allegedly made to an unqualified contractor for police patrol vehicles.
Beyond the financial concerns, the Police funds scandal also involves security-related issues. The Auditor-General reportedly found that 42 firearms, including AK-47 rifles and pistols, along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition, were booked into police armouries but never returned.
The report further alleged that recovered firearms and exhibits were converted for operational use without proper authorisation, while several exhibits, including cash, laptops and weapons, were released without official documentation or bond. SERAP argued that these failures undermine transparency, weaken public confidence in the police and pose significant risks to national security.
The organisation also cited cases of unretired cash advances exceeding approved limits, unsettled insurance claims worth hundreds of millions of naira, irregular contract awards without competitive bidding and failure to prepare statutory financial statements. It maintained that Sections 14 and 15 of the Nigerian Constitution require government to prioritise citizens’ welfare and eliminate corruption, adding that the reported irregularities demand urgent action.
SERAP gave the Federal Government seven days to begin implementing its recommendations, warning that it would pursue legal action if no concrete response is received. The group said resolving the Police funds scandal through thorough investigation, prosecution of offenders and recovery of missing assets is necessary to restore public confidence and strengthen accountability within Nigeria’s security institutions.
