A prominent anti-corruption group, the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT), has called on state governors in Nigeria to provide detailed accountability for the billions of naira allocated to them under the guise of “security votes.” This demand comes amidst growing concerns about widespread misappropriation of public funds.
In a recent statement made in Abuja, the Director of Compliance at NACAT, Light Shedrack, emphasized the need for Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), to probe the expenditures tied to security votes. According to him, the lack of transparency surrounding these funds has turned them into a tool for perpetrating corruption at the state level.
Speaking to journalists, Shedrack highlighted a petition filed by NACAT with the EFCC against the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel. The petition alleges that Emmanuel misappropriated a significant portion of state funds, particularly those allocated for security purposes.
Shedrack insisted that security votes are public funds meant exclusively for ensuring the safety and security of citizens, not for personal or political use by governors. He noted that many state governors misuse these funds under the pretense of maintaining security, often exploiting the lack of oversight.
“One kobo allocated as a security vote does not belong to any governor. It is state money intended for the safety of its people. Governors, as the Chief Security Officers of their states, must account for every naira spent,” Shedrack stated. He added that the notion that security votes are at the discretion of governors has led to unchecked corruption, as many governors fail to transparently detail how these funds are utilized.
NACAT’s petition alleges that during Emmanuel’s eight-year tenure as governor of Akwa Ibom State, over ₦700 billion was diverted from the state’s security vote allocations. It further claims that within just six months, ₦4.5 billion was withdrawn and claimed to have been given to security agencies without sufficient documentation.
In addition to the alleged mismanagement of security votes, the petition accuses Emmanuel of misappropriating over ₦10 billion in 2018 alone and transferring billions into private accounts. NACAT further claims that despite receiving over ₦3 trillion in total state allocations during his tenure, Emmanuel borrowed an additional ₦500 billion for various projects, many of which remain incomplete.
The anti-corruption group also cited Emmanuel’s alleged use of over ₦100 billion to fund 31 industrial projects that never materialized, alongside other financial irregularities. Shedrack urged the EFCC to thoroughly investigate these allegations and ensure accountability.
Ojefia Justice, another NACAT representative, noted that Nigeria’s constitution, while granting governors immunity from prosecution while in office under Section 308, does not exempt them from being held accountable for their financial dealings once their tenure ends.
“Security votes are not personal funds but public resources. The immunity clause in the constitution does not mean governors cannot explain how they spent taxpayers’ money. The security agencies have a duty to investigate, prosecute, and recover any mismanaged funds,” Justice said.
NACAT further alleged that in Akwa Ibom, over ₦4 billion was transferred from the governor’s office into a Wema Bank account, with no credible explanation or justification. It called for EFCC officials to summon both Emmanuel and other accused parties for questioning and verification of these claims.
The group also accused security agencies of complacency, urging them to intensify their efforts in combating financial crimes related to security votes. According to NACAT, a lack of accountability not only undermines the welfare of citizens but also jeopardizes national security.
NACAT stressed that the misuse of security votes has become a loophole for massive fraud, calling on civil society organizations and the public to rally behind the demand for transparency. The group warned that failure to address this issue could lead to an erosion of public trust and further weaken Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
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