The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to order an immediate investigation into alleged financial mismanagement involving more than ₦6.79 billion within the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, as well as the recovery of missing firearms, ammunition and other police exhibits.
The organisation said the allegations, contained in the 2022 Annual Report of the Auditor-General of the Federation published in September 2025, point to serious cases of diversion of public funds, abandoned security projects, missing weapons and poor accountability in the management of police assets.
In a letter dated August 1, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP called on President Tinubu 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.
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The organisation also demanded the recovery of all missing public funds, firearms and ammunition.
According to SERAP, the Auditor-General’s report “suggests a grave betrayal of public trust” and raises serious concerns about the management of police funds, exhibits and weapons.
“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,” the organisation said.
Among the allegations cited by SERAP is the payment of ₦499.9 million for the construction of Police College Phase II in Bashar, Plateau State, which the Auditor-General said was never executed.
Another ₦111.6 million allegedly paid for the construction of transit camp facilities and rehabilitation works at the NPF Pre-Retirement Skills Acquisition Centre in Kaduna State was also reportedly not carried out.
The report further alleged that more than ₦1.93 billion was spent on 14 projects that were abandoned before new contracts were awarded, with the new projects reportedly untraceable.
It also questioned the payment of ₦12.9 million for the rehabilitation of a police building in Abuja, which auditors said was never executed.
SERAP expressed particular concern over allegations involving missing firearms and ammunition.
According to the Auditor-General’s report, the FCT Police Command failed to return 42 firearms, including AK-47 rifles and pistols, together with 737 rounds of live ammunition, after they were booked into the armoury.
The report warned that the missing weapons “may have been lost or fallen into the wrong hands.”
The audit also alleged that police officers converted recovered exhibits, including vehicles and firearms, into operational use without proper authorisation.
Nine AK-47 rifles recovered during operations were allegedly deployed by the FCT Criminal Investigation Department without approval, while several recovered weapons and ammunition could not be traced in exhibit registers.
Auditors also claimed they were denied access to the police exhibit room during the audit process.
SERAP also highlighted findings showing that the Police Insurance Unit allegedly paid ₦681.4 million to insurance brokers for claims that were never settled, while over ₦1.6 billion in insurance liabilities remained unresolved.
The report further alleged that police authorities granted more than ₦10 million in cash advances above approved limits without retirement documents.
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Other allegations include:
- Award of contracts worth ₦438 million by the Ministry of Police Affairs without due diligence.
- Payment of ₦258.9 million to an allegedly unqualified contractor for patrol vehicles.
- Payment of ₦18 million for a skills acquisition programme without participant records or evidence the training was conducted.
- Irregular procurement contracts worth over ₦57 million without competitive bidding.
- Failure to deduct more than ₦7.7 million in statutory taxes on awarded contracts.
SERAP gave the Federal Government seven days to begin action on its requests, warning that it would consider legal action if no response is received.
The organisation argued that the Constitution obliges the government to combat corruption and protect public welfare, insisting that accountability over the alleged missing funds and firearms is necessary to restore confidence in Nigeria’s security institutions.
