Kogi State Security Funds Under Scrutiny As CISLAC Alleges Massive Diversion Of N36.9billion

A recent revelation by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, the national chapter of Transparency International in Nigeria, has sparked intense scrutiny over the management of security funds in Kogi State. According to the organization, financial intelligence findings suggest that a substantial amount of ₦36.9 billion may have been diverted from the state's security account. The alleged diversion is said to have occurred within a nine-month period, with the Kogi State Security Operation Account receiving over ₦36.9 billion from the state government's revenue account. Preliminary investigations by CISLAC indicate that approximately ₦23.7 billion was transferred to a finance firm, Real Striker Finance Limited, while additional billions of naira were disbursed to various individuals and private entities without clear justification. The beneficiaries of these funds include individuals such as Abdullahi Ayisat Omonale and Peter Enehezeyi Ozavize, as well as companies like Dange Security Patrol and G and T Motors Nigeria Limited. CISLAC has expressed concern over the timing of these transactions, noting that Real Striker Finance Limited was established shortly after the current administration took office and has links to politically exposed persons, including a former security adviser to former Governor Yahaya Bello. The organization is calling for a comprehensive investigation into the transactions, including a forensic audit of the Kogi State Security Operation Account and an investigation into the ownership structure of Real Striker Finance Limited. CISLAC is also demanding the prosecution of all individuals found culpable, regardless of their political status or affiliation. The alleged diversion of these funds has significant implications for the state's ability to address its security challenges, and CISLAC is urging the Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, to cooperate fully with anti-graft agencies. The organization believes that the current security vote system is one of the weakest links in Nigeria's public finance management architecture and is calling for a fundamental restructuring of the system through legislation that establishes clear budgeting procedures, transparency standards, and independent audit review mechanisms for all security-related spending.