Coalition asks ICPC to dismiss petition on alleged Kogi fund diversion, warns of security risks

A coalition of civil society groups this week asked the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to dismiss a petition by two anti‑corruption NGOs that alleges misappropriation of Kogi State security funds, saying the complaint is politically motivated and risks compromising state security operations.

In a formal letter addressed to the Executive Chairman of the ICPC and copied to top security and anti‑corruption officials, the Centre for Public Integrity and Nigeria’s Integrity Watch — together with the Northern Council of Nigeria, the Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Forum and the Foundation for Democracy in Africa — challenged a petition filed on June 9, 2026 by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and the Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC).

CISLAC and ALAC’s petition seeks an investigation into the management of ₦36.9 billion and ₦23.7 billion allegedly belonging to Kogi State. It names transactions including an alleged transfer of ₦23.7 billion from a Kogi State Security Operation Account to Real Striker Finance Limited and lists several individuals and companies as beneficiaries.

The coalition, however, said the petition “lacks forensic merit” and contended that the public exposure of the named individuals and entities appears calculated to compromise covert security operations. The letter argues that security spending in a strategic transit state such as Kogi necessarily involves confidential disbursements for intelligence, logistics, surveillance and support for joint security efforts.

The groups further alleged the petition is part of “a revenge campaign” by politicians who lost in recent All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries and are using civil society platforms to pursue political scores. They warned that entertaining the petition would risk turning the ICPC into a tool for settling internal party disputes.

The coalition cited statements from state officials, saying the Kogi State House of Assembly — through Yabagi Mohammed, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker — has confirmed that financial operations, including security accounts, were subject to regular legislative oversight. The Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, was also cited as explaining the confidential nature of security expenditures.

The letter concludes with four formal requests to the ICPC: dismiss the CISLAC/ALAC petition; advise civil society groups against being used by aggrieved politicians; protect confidential security spending from politicisation; and require the petitioners to substantiate their claims under caution so that false or destabilising allegations can be dealt with under the law.

Signatories to the letter include Comrade Job Samuel Danfulani (Centre for Public Integrity), Dr. John Samuel Nangi (Nigeria Integrity Watch), Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim Sumaila (Northern Council of Nigeria), Mallam Abdullahi Salisu (Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Forum) and Miss Hassana Mohammed (Foundation for Democracy in Africa). The correspondence was copied to the ICPC commissioners, the National Security Adviser, directors of the DSS, Army and Police leadership, the EFCC chairman and presiding officers of the National Assembly, among others.

The coalition’s letter frames the matter as both a legal and national security concern. The ICPC, CISLAC and ALAC had not issued public responses to the coalition’s letter at the time of publication.