Documents obtained by Swift Reporters and accounts from serving and retired police officers have challenged allegations surrounding contract awards under former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun.
The documents reportedly show that Blue Sea Investments Ltd., accused by online platform Secretreporter of being unregistered, was incorporated in 1995.
A Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) public-search record lists the company as RC 273945, incorporated on June 14, 1995.
Also, a Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) letter dated September 10, 2024, and addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, indicates that the procurement of security equipment worth ₦1.408 billion from the company was reviewed.
The items listed in the letter include 1,450 NATO Past Type ST-4 helmets valued at ₦638 million and 1,400 Armoured Vest 183 units worth ₦770 million. The letter states that a Due Process Certificate of No Objection could be granted for the procurement.
Meanwhile, Egbetokun has instructed his lawyer to commence civil proceedings against publishers of reports he described as defamatory.
The former IGP said he had previously ignored the allegations to avoid giving their publishers unnecessary publicity but added that his silence might have been mistaken for weakness.
“I don’t have time for miscreants who thrive only on blackmail. Responding to them will give the falsehoods unnecessary publicity. I know their sponsors and know their motives,” he said.
He expressed confidence that those responsible would be exposed and held accountable.
Speculation has also emerged online about a possible new appointment for Egbetokun by President Bola Tinubu. The former police chief neither confirmed nor denied the speculation and declined further comment.
On the police helicopter procurement, a source at Force Headquarters told Swift Reporters that the contract was awarded through due process.
According to the source, funds reached the contractor late, making it difficult to purchase the aircraft under the original terms. The contractor subsequently requested a variation, which Egbetokun forwarded to the BPP for consideration.
The source said the BPP approved the variation before Egbetokun left office, but funding constraints prevented the process from being completed.
When the police urgently needed a helicopter for operations against bandits in the North-West and North-Central, the contractor reportedly proposed supplying a fairly used aircraft with the funds already advanced.
Egbetokun allegedly rejected the proposal, insisting that the BPP approval covered only a brand-new helicopter.
The source added that the revised arrangement had not been paid for when Egbetokun handed over. It further claimed that the current IGP, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, was aware of the situation and was working to conclude the procurement and secure delivery.
On feeding and dry-ration payments, sources told Swift Reporters that funding allocations were approved for the Force’s eight departments, 17 zonal commands, 36 state commands and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) command.
According to the sources, the heads of these units manage their allocations and operational requirements, with approvals also handled at departmental and command levels.
They explained that purchases such as tissue paper, cartons of milk and dry rations are subject to administrative, financial and procurement procedures, depending on delegated authority.
The sources argued that it would be unrealistic for the IGP to personally approve every purchase across an organisation as large as the Nigeria Police Force.
They also cited the roles of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police for Public Accounts and Budget and the Force Procurement Officer in financial administration and procurement compliance.
A serving senior police officer described Egbetokun as incorruptible, claiming that he neither solicited nor tolerated gratification.
“Egbetokun does not seek gratification from anybody, and you may even get into trouble for trying to offer him gratification,” the officer said.
A retired officer who worked closely with the former IGP also defended his record.
“Egbetokun does not cut corners. He is a man who follows due process to its logical conclusion,” the retired officer said, while criticising the circulation of unverified allegations on social media.
Similarly, a retired police commissioner alleged that some individuals behind the publications were serving officers unhappy with Egbetokun’s strict enforcement of rules.
“The thieves are the ones ganging up against Egbetokun to tarnish his reputation with falsehoods by using social media,” the commissioner alleged.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Aniete Iniedu, had yet to issue an official response to the publication as of the time of filing this report.
