Tension as Idris considers action over auditors’ report on police businesses

There is tension in the Nigeria Police as the management is considering the recommendations of an audit report on police subsidiaries submitted last month.

The Guardian’s investigation revealed that the findings of the auditors showed that the accounts of most of the subsidiaries were not consistent. They ranged from disbursement of funds, the flagrant abuse of procurement procedure in the award of contracts and purchases made.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris had on taking over in June promised to strengthen the anti-corruption fight in the police force by deploying “thoroughly vetted, selfless, and patriotic officers to tackle corruption and abuse of office within the police organisation.”

Idris appointed two audit firms, Messrs Nebot William & Co. and Gbenga Abimbola & Co. to look into financial records of police investments and related subsidiaries.

Though given six weeks to complete their work, the leadership of the auditing firms on the day of submitting the report to the IGP, more than 10 weeks after, confessed that the task of auditing the subsidiaries within the period was arduous.

The companies and subsidiaries audited include Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Pensions, NPF Mortgage Bank, NPF Corporative Limited, NPF (Health Maintenance) HMO, NPF Insurance and NPF Property Development Company.

“The auditors informed the IGP that they had carried out a critical financial appraisal of these companies and have come up with invaluable recommendations that if implemented, will help in repositioning them to conform with international best practices,” the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) Don Awunah wrote in a statement.

On receiving the audited report, IGP Idris commended them for carrying out their mandate in line with global best practices and ethics of the profession.

Awunah said: “The IG and his management team were looking forward to constructive recommendations that if implemented will help in repositioning the subsidiaries for effectiveness, optimal services and benefit to men and officers of Nigeria Police Force.”