The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has called on President Bola Tinubu to order a thorough investigation into allegations that more than ₦6.79 billion in public funds was diverted or mismanaged within the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs.
The organisation also urged the Federal Government to recover and properly account for missing firearms and ammunition reportedly identified in the latest report of the Auditor-General of the Federation.
SERAP made the demand in a letter dated August 1, 2026, according to a statement issued on Sunday by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
The organisation said the allegations were contained in the Auditor-General’s Annual Report, published on September 9, 2025, describing the findings as a “grave betrayal of the public trust.”
It urged Tinubu 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, recover any misappropriated funds and prosecute anyone found culpable.
According to the letter, the Auditor-General’s report uncovered widespread financial irregularities within the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, including payments for unexecuted projects, abandoned contracts, contract inflation and procurement breaches.
“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 stated.
The organisation further alleged that the report identified missing firearms and ammunition, the unauthorised release and use of police exhibits, failures to account for recovered weapons and exhibits, and poor storage of firearms, warning that the lapses pose serious threats to public safety and national security.
SERAP gave the Federal Government seven days to implement its recommendations or face legal action.
“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.
Citing Sections 14 and 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution, SERAP argued that the government has a constitutional obligation to prioritise citizens’ welfare and eradicate corruption and abuse of office.
Among the report’s findings, SERAP highlighted the alleged payment of ₦499.9 million in October 2022 for the construction of Police College Phase II in Bashar, Plateau State, a project the Auditor-General said was never executed.
According to the report, another ₦12.9 million was paid for the rehabilitation of Block B of the Department of Logistics and Supply building in Garki, Abuja, despite the project not being carried out.
The report also alleged that more than ₦111.6 million was paid for the construction of 12 one-bedroom transit camp units and the rehabilitation of the administrative block at the Nigeria Police Force Pre-Retirement Skills Acquisition Centre in Kudan, Kaduna State, but the project was never executed.
SERAP further cited findings that taxes amounting to over ₦4 million were allegedly inserted into a contract to inflate its value, while more than ₦1.93 billion was paid for 14 projects classified as ongoing in 2022, despite the contracts being abandoned and replaced with new ones that could not be traced.
The organisation also referenced findings that 42 firearms, including AK-47 rifles and pistols, as well as 737 rounds of live ammunition lodged in the FCT Police Command armoury between 2021 and 2022, were never returned.
It added that the Auditor-General reported that police exhibits, including vehicles, firearms and ammunition, were converted for operational use or released without authorisation, while several exhibits could not be accounted for.
SERAP also pointed to alleged procurement irregularities in the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, including contracts worth ₦438.1 million for the supply of bulletproof vests, ballistic helmets and troop carriers, which it said were awarded without due diligence.
The organisation further cited alleged irregular payments involving insurance claims, cash advances, training programmes, patrol vehicle procurement, public relations contracts and tax deductions, all contained in the Auditor-General’s report.
SERAP maintained that anyone found responsible for the alleged wrongdoing should be prosecuted and that all missing public funds and security assets should be recovered in the public interest.
