123
By Tracy Moses
The House of Representatives has initiated a thorough investigation into the Nigeria Police Force over allegations of corruption, including unauthorized disposal of government assets and misuse of public funds.
This development followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance jointly sponsored by Hon. Ibe Osunwa from Abia State and three other lawmakers during plenary on Thursday.
While presenting the motion, Osunwa reminded the House that the Nigeria Police, established under Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), is primarily responsible for the protection of lives and property, prevention and detection of crime, and enforcement of laws. However, he raised alarm over mounting claims of misconduct and abuse of office within the Force.
“There is growing unease that widespread allegations of corruption and procedural violations within the police are weakening its credibility, hampering its efficiency, and threatening national security,” he said.
He referenced investigative reports, particularly one by Ape Reporters, which accused the Police Procurement Department of unlawfully awarding a ₦6 billion contract to Crown Natures Nigeria Limited. According to the report, the deal was broken down into 66 smaller contracts in what appeared to be an attempt to sidestep provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, especially concerning the procurement of police uniforms.
Osunwa also criticized the alleged sale of significant national assets, such as the Garki Police Barracks in Abuja, Falomo Barracks in Lagos, and Bompai Barracks in Kano, to private individuals linked with Exima Realty Company Ltd. These transactions, he said, reportedly occurred without statutory approval from regulatory bodies like the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Ministry of Police Affairs, or the Federal Executive Council.
He further alleged that several contracts awarded under the 2024 national budget, running into billions of naira, did not follow proper procurement procedures. According to him, these contracts were issued without Ministerial Tenders Board clearance, BPP “No-Objection” certification, or necessary approval from the Federal Executive Council.
Among the companies reportedly involved in these irregular deals are Dexterity Development Ltd., KC Construction Ltd., Contract Technologies Ltd., and Strong Tower Infrastructure Development Ltd.
Equally troubling, Osunwa said, is the alleged diversion of ₦2.9 billion allocated to the Safe School Initiative. The contract was awarded to Vigiscope Ltd., a firm that reportedly failed to obtain certification from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), a statutory requirement for all government ICT procurements.
He also pointed to intelligence reports suggesting that contracts worth over ₦50 billion were awarded for military-grade equipment, including arms, tactical gear, and intelligence tools, to contractors lacking the necessary qualifications. These contracts were allegedly paid for without proof of execution, posing serious risks to national security.
The firms cited in these particular allegations include PSGL Nigeria Ltd., SOLYD Nigeria Ltd., Toffy Ventures Ltd., Rush Rights Ltd., Value Exchange Ltd., and Radio Tactics Global Services.
Osunwa emphasized the need for urgent legislative intervention to address these accusations, warning that continued inaction could lead to the collapse of public confidence in the police and jeopardize national development and safety.
Following debate, the House resolved to mandate its Committees on Public Assets and Public Procurement to investigate the claims thoroughly and report back within six weeks