The Nigerian Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has raised concerns over irregularities in contract awards by the Nigeria Police, prompting a probe into procurement practices involving over ₦1.13 billion.
According to the Auditor General’s 2019 report, the police awarded 10 contracts—each worth the same amount—to a single individual operating under multiple company names, in violation of the Public Procurement Act. Further investigation revealed that three of these companies shared the same phone numbers and email addresses but failed to disclose their affiliations, breaching procurement transparency regulations.
Despite repeated queries from the Auditor General, the Nigeria Police management did not respond to the allegations. The audit office subsequently recommended that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) account for the full amount, refund the sum to the national treasury, and provide proof of remittance to the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee.
In its defense, the police argued that the contracts involved security-sensitive items and were restricted to pre-vetted suppliers with a history of providing high-quality armaments. They cited Section 115 of the Procurement Act 2007, which exempts security-related procurements from public advertisement due to national security concerns.
However, lawmakers were unconvinced. Some senators insisted that due process had been flouted, noting that a single contractor, using multiple company names, secured all the contracts.
“The procurement process lacked transparency, and no due diligence was followed,” the committee chairman stated.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole reinforced this stance, asserting, “Even if it is confirmed that the same person used multiple company names, this is not a matter of opinion—it is about the law.”
Despite heated discussions, some lawmakers acknowledged the IGP’s cooperation, which they noted was rare in similar investigations. A motion was later moved to vacate the ₦1.13 billion query, provided the police implemented stricter procurement guidelines. The motion was passed.
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While the Senate PAC softened its stance on the initial query, it escalated another probe involving ₦924,985,000 allegedly paid for unexecuted contracts. Under financial regulations, payments must not be made for undelivered goods or services. The committee demanded full documentation proving compliance, warning of further consequences if the police failed to provide the necessary records.
Lawmakers also gave the police a deadline to submit all relevant procurement documents, cautioning that continued non-compliance could lead to sanctions.
Although the police leadership has pledged reforms, the committee insists that law enforcement agencies must uphold due process and set an example of accountability.
