Payment records from the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Interior have raised questions over the disbursement of more than N350 million to companies described in the records as either unregistered, inactive, or insufficiently identified.
An examination of 4,406 payment records covering October 2023 to June 2026 found that eight companies collectively received more than N350 million from the ministry’s headquarters.
The records reviewed reportedly contained no references to competitive bidding or other procurement methods for the transactions.
Among the recipients was Vas Technologies Limited Abuja, which received N38.95 million in a single payment. However, the company could reportedly not be located on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) online registry under the name stated in the payment records.
Although references to an entity bearing the name appear elsewhere online, the absence of a corresponding CAC registration record raises questions about the status of the beneficiary and the due diligence conducted before the payment was made.
Another beneficiary, E.K O Xpression Limited, received N26.01 million in one transaction. The precise corporate entity named in the payment records could reportedly not be verified on the CAC portal, although an organisation with a similar name appears in online records.
The records also identified payments to companies whose CAC status was listed as inactive.
Ginsau Multi Concept Ltd received N74.85 million in a single transaction, making it the largest payment among the entities identified as inactive.
Omnibus Integrated Resources Limited received N17.35 million in two payments, while Truequest Global Services Ltd received N16.69 million in one transaction. Ngwoke-Ngwoke and Company was paid N14.06 million across two transactions and was reportedly listed on the CAC portal as an inactive business name.
The reported status of these companies raises questions about whether the ministry conducted adequate corporate and procurement checks before releasing public funds.
A separate transaction involving Halis Matrix Limited also attracted attention because of the absence of information about the purpose of the payment.
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The company received N20.76 million in a single transaction, while the payment description reportedly stated simply, “None”.
The absence of a description identifying the goods or services supplied makes it difficult, based on the payment record alone, to establish what the ministry received in exchange for the funds.
Beyond the status of individual beneficiaries, the broader payment records raise questions about procurement procedures at the ministry’s headquarters.
According to the records examined, none of the 4,406 transactions reviewed identified a procurement method. The records reportedly contained no references to competitive bidding or to a no-objection approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
The Public Procurement Act 2007 establishes competitive procurement as a central principle for federal government contracting, subject to applicable exceptions and procedures. It also provides for the role of the BPP in overseeing public procurement.
Similarly, government financial-control procedures require appropriate documentation and verification before public funds are disbursed.
The findings therefore raise questions about the extent of due diligence undertaken by the ministry before making the payments, particularly where beneficiaries were allegedly unregistered or listed as inactive.
The transactions occurred after Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo assumed office as Minister of Interior in August 2023. The payments were made through the ministry’s headquarters during his tenure.
However, the payment records alone do not establish that the minister personally authorised each transaction or that any individual involved in the payments acted unlawfully. They also do not, by themselves, establish that the beneficiaries failed to provide goods or services.
The central issue raised by the records is whether the ministry complied with applicable corporate verification, procurement and financial-control requirements before releasing the funds.
The absence of procurement information in the records also makes it difficult to determine whether the payments resulted from competitive processes, approved exceptions or other lawful procurement arrangements.
The findings underscore the importance of transparent documentation in public spending, particularly where substantial sums are paid to private companies.
Proper identification of beneficiaries, verification of their legal status, documentation of the purpose of expenditure, and disclosure of the procurement method are essential for accountability in the management of public funds.
