Audit Exposes N2.7Billion Contract Scandal, Abandoned Projects, Dubious Payments In Nigeria Police Force

A fresh audit has uncovered a web of contract fraud, abandoned projects, and questionable payments totalling N2,694,859,868.53 within the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The findings are contained in the newly released Auditor-General’s Annual Report on Non-Compliance and Internal Control Weaknesses in MDAs for 2022, which spotlights widespread violations of procurement laws and financial regulations across multiple police departments at Force Headquarters.

According to the report, at least 14 contracts worth N1.93 billion, listed as ongoing projects under the 2022 budget, were abandoned.

Instead of completing them, auditors found that the NPF went ahead to award fresh contracts not captured in the 2022 Appropriation Act, raising suspicion of deliberate circumvention of due process.

The auditors noted that these new contracts had no trace of legislative approval yet were awarded and fully paid for.

In its defence, police management claimed the projects were rollovers dating back to 2017, blamed poor funding, and urged that a new budget sub-head be created to revive the abandoned works. 

The Auditor-General, however, insisted that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) must recover all affected funds and remit them to the government treasury.

One of the most troubling discoveries involved the construction of 12 one-bedroom en suite transit camps and rehabilitation works at the Police Pre-retirement Skills Acquisition Centre, Kudan, Kaduna State. 

Although 79% of the N141 million contract sum was paid out in late 2022, auditors found during a March 2024 inspection that nothing had been built.

Police management claimed the contractor had returned to site, but auditors dismissed the explanation as “inadequate.”

Meanwhile, N4 million irregular payment was tied to modification works in the IGP Conference Room and N499,875,500 was paid for Police College Phase II, Bashar, Plateau State, which auditors say was never executed.

According to the report, N112 million was paid to settle 2020 liabilitiesusing 2022 funds, which was described as another breach of financial rules.

Also, N6 million was spent on a Senior Special Assistant to the IGP for “revenue and tax matters,” which auditors said violated due process.

N10,080,000 worth of equipment was procured through direct purchase for the NPF Database Management Centre, contrary to guidelines.

A N12.9m contract was executed without clear documentation or accountability.

Shockingly, the Force also could not account for several operational animals, especially horses, with the report describing it as evidence of weak asset management practices.

However, auditors found obsolete firearms stored in the Force Headquarters armoury without any documentation or schedule explaining how and when they were to be disposed, another breach of safety and accountability procedures.

The Auditor-General added that the Nigeria Police Force violated financial regulations, procurement laws, and proper documentation standards, stressing that the findings will remain unresolved until the Police implement all recommended corrective actions.