IGP Egbetokun Clarifies Allegations Surrounding NASS Budget Controversy

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has dismissed allegations that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) submitted conflicting budget documents to the National Assembly during his defense of the 2025 budget.

In a statement issued on Friday through Muyiwa Adejobi, the force spokesperson, Egbetokun clarified that the incident at the joint committee hearing on police affairs was “unnecessary and avoidable.”

He explained that the confusion arose from a misunderstanding over two versions of the budget presentation—comprehensive and abridged—both of which had been provided to committee members before the session.

“At the start of the session, the committee members unanimously agreed that I should present the abridged version since they all had access to both documents,” Egbetokun stated.

However, he noted that Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi of Ebonyi North arrived late to the session and began referencing the comprehensive version while the abridged version was being presented.

Despite explanations from other committee members about the agreement and the consistency between both versions, the senator insisted on his position and abruptly left the session.

Egbetokun firmly refuted claims of any inconsistencies in the budget documents. “There is no discrepancy between the comprehensive and abridged versions. Both are identical in content, with the abridged version serving as a summary for ease of presentation,” he said.

He emphasized the importance of focusing on the critical security needs of the nation rather than being sidetracked by avoidable disputes. “This session was about charting a path forward for the security of Nigerians, and I urge all stakeholders to prioritize this shared goal,” the IGP added.

Tensions flared during Egbetokun’s appearance before the National Assembly’s joint committee on police affairs on Thursday. The session, meant to deliberate on the Nigeria Police Force’s (NPF) 2025 budget, took a dramatic turn over claims of mismatched budget documents.

The incident began when Mark Esset, a House of Representatives member from Akwa Ibom, raised concerns that the details being read by the IGP regarding the construction of five zonal police headquarters were not reflected in the document he had received.

Adding to the confusion, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi of Ebonyi North Central demanded access to the same document the IGP was presenting from. However, Abubakar Makki Yalleman, chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs, interjected, asking the IGP to proceed with his presentation.

Frustrated by the exchange, Senator Nwebonyi stormed out of the session, leaving an air of discomfort in his wake.