Police Chief Under Fire for Alleged N6 Billion Uniform Contract Irregularities

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun is facing scrutiny over a N6 billion police uniform contract awarded to Messrs Crown Natures Nigeria Plc, a company reportedly inactive and lacking proper tax records with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
Investigations reveal that the contract was allegedly split into 66 smaller parts, each valued between N45.7 million and N99.3 million, seemingly to bypass the IGP’s N100 million approval threshold, which requires ministerial or Federal Executive Council (FEC) endorsement for larger sums. All 66 segments were reportedly awarded to the same company, Crown Natures Nigeria Plc, whose directors are listed as Adedokun Olarotimi Aromolaran and Omolara Olufunke. Sources suggest a link between the IGP and the company.
Allegations of Procurement Act Violations
<span;>The Public Procurement Act prohibits contract splitting, especially when similar tasks are divided to circumvent regulations. Despite being registered since 2006, Messrs Crown Natures Nigeria Plc has no tax compliance records on the BPP’s Federal Contractors Portal. Furthermore, as a public limited company, it is not listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and has not published required financial statements.
Sources claim IGP Egbetokun diverted the N6 billion from the police operational account’s budgetary sub-head into a private procurement arrangement for uniforms. An internal police memo, dated April 2, 2024, from Assistant Inspector General Adepoju A. Ilori to the Director of Finance and Accounts (DFA), Police Formations and Commands, Force Headquarters, Abuja, confirmed the approval for an initial N2 billion tranche. The memo urged the DFA to “expedite action on the payment process as approved by the Inspector-General of Police.”
Financial Irregularities and Objections
<span;>Reports indicate that the DFA initially raised objections regarding the N2 billion tranche, cautioning the IGP about the legal implications and the amount far exceeding his N100 million approval threshold. However, Egbetokun allegedly overruled these concerns and insisted on immediate disbursement.
Further investigation shows that on December 6, 2024, the Nigerian police made 15 separate payments totaling N989 million to Crown Natures Nigeria Plc for similar uniform supply contracts. These payments were for thousands of meters of materials, including Olive Green and Black (John Cross) and Dark Grey materials, for distribution across various police commands.
The contract award letters carry similar references, such as CQ:1200/DLS/PROC/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.13/715, CQ:1200/DLS/PROC/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.13/716, and CQ:1200/DLS/PROC/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.13/719.
The revelations raise serious questions about transparency and accountability within the police force’s procurement processes under IGP Egbetokun’s leadership.